"You never mentioned her to us at Valencia," continued Dolores. "No," said Ashby. "And why not?" asked Dolores, who saw his confusion, but was eager to know the truth. "I had not seen her," said Ashby. "You had not seen her," repeated Dolores. "Ah!"--she hesitated for a moment and then went on--"so you saw her afterward. And she loves you!" These last words were spoken with indescribable tenderness and mournfulness. "And--she--loves--you," she repeated, in a voice that had sunk almost to a whisper; "and she is to be your wife--the English girl!" "Well," said Ashby, making an effort to overcome his embarrassment, "it is--it is about time. The fact is, I--I did ask her to--to be my wife." "And she?" "She? Well--she said she would, I think," said Ashby, evasively. "You think!" exclaimed Dolores. "Well, you see, there's a difficulty." "A difficulty?" "Yes. Her guardian will not consent." "But that is nothing," said Dolores, in an animated tone. "You must take her, and run away with her." Ashby looked at Dolores with a strange, eager, hungry gaze. "But there's another objection," said he. "Objection? What is that?" "I don't want to." "What?" asked Dolores, in surprise. Ashby hesitated for a moment, and then said, with an effort, "I thought before we left that I loved her; but since I have seen you again--I feel--that I do not." These words were spoken rapidly, in a low, feverish whisper. At first Dolores started as though she had been shot. Then she averted her face, and held up her hands deprecatingly. "Ah," said she, in a sad voice, "that is all idle, idle, idle, foolish, foolish, foolish compliment, and nothing more. You must not say that again, or I will never forgive you--never, never!" At this Ashby was brought back to his senses with a sudden and wholesome shock, and said no more upon that point. In fact, he now felt afraid that he had said altogether too much. CHAPTER III. HOW ASHBY MEETS WITH ANOTHER FRIEND, AND HOW HE TAKES HIM INTO HIS CONFIDENCE. That evening they arrived at Burgos, where, on account of troubles along the line, the train was to remain until ten o'clock on the following day. Dolores informed Ashby that she was going to stay with friends, and refused to allow him to accompany her to the house, in spite of his earnest entreaties. She had been in Burgos before, she said. The house was not far from the station, and she was firm in her resolve to go alone. Ashby followed her, however, and saw her pass in safety through the streets and into a large and venerable house not far from the Cathedral. He then retraced his steps, and made the best of his way to the Fonda del Norte, where he put up for the night.