"Dear, dear! You foolish boy, you're always in trouble, aren't you? You really don't deserve to be helped. Why, you have avoided me for weeks." "The new arrangement has swamped us with work. I have had no time to go out." "Indeed! You had time to run after the first pretty Spanish face you saw. I'm really angry, though I suppose I can't blame you. After all, she is charming, in her way." "You mean Miss Garavel?" "Yes. Didn't you realize what you were doing?" "I realized what I was trying to do." "Naughty! But why select her of all people? There are dozens of others who could amuse you and whose people would not object. Andres Garavel isn't that sort; he is a rich man, he has political ambitions, he's a very proud sort. Now, I suppose I must get you out of this difficulty as best I can. You ought to be more careful." "Please!" he said, crossly. "I could understand better what you are talking about if I knew just what this difficulty is." "Why, this silly 'engagement' of yours. Don't pretend to be so stupid." "Ramon Alfarez heard that same report, and very courteously invited me to wait a few minutes while he killed me. It's tremendously flattering to be linked up with Miss Garavel, of course, but I haven't asked her to marry me." "But you've seen her; you have called at her house!" "Sure! Twice; at the invitation of the old gentleman. All the little Garavels were lined up like mourners." "And you dined there last night. Is that all you have seen of her?" "N-no! I've seen her at Las Savannas. That's why I went hunting so often." At this confession, which Kirk delivered with sheepish reluctance, Mrs. Cortlandt drew herself up with an expression of anger. "Then this has been going on for some time," she cried. "Why, Kirk, you never told me!" "Why should I?" She flushed at this unconscious brutality, but after a moment ran on bravely; "Oh, well, I suppose any man would enjoy that sort of an adventure, particularly with such a pretty girl, but why did you let it go so far? Why did you let them commit you?" "Am I committed?" Her look was half offended, half incredulous. "Are you trying to be disagreeable, or is it possible you don't know the meaning of those invitations to call, and to dine with the family, and all that? Why, they expect you to MARRY her. It is all settled now, according to the Spanish custom. The whole town is talking about it, I can't understand, for the life of me, how you ever allowed yourself to go there the second time and to DINE." Seeing the look in his face, she cried, sharply, "You don't mean--that you're in earnest?" She was staring at him as if disbelieving her eyes. "Certainly, I'm in earnest." Edith turned away abruptly.