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24 affection.” But Don Alfonso, glad to have his daughter with him, was unwilling to give her up, even to her sister, and soon started with her to return home. Avila was some leagues from Castellanos, and the travellers, stopping to break their journey at Hortijosa, visited Don Pedro Sanchez de Cepeda, Theresa’s uncle. While there, Don Alfonso was sent for on business, and started away suddenly, leaving Theresa behind him for a fortnight under his brother’s care. Don Pedro is described as “a prudent, excellent man, a widower.” Since his wife’s death he had devoted himself to a holy life, though not having yet left his own home or joined any religious order.

After the gay, happy days which Theresa had spent in her sister’s home, she found the old man’s house decidedly dull. There were no merry sounds of laughter to be heard, no games were permitted, and life took on a very sombre hue; the situation was almost as depressing as had been her first few days in the Augustinian Convent. Don Pedro allowed no romances to be read in his house, and no