Page:The woman in battle .djvu/581

Rh She is a handsome senorita, and evidently very rich; if I could converse with her I would soon have an introduction."

"Yes," said the other, "I should like to know who she is."

"O, there is something the matter with me," said the first, putting his hand to his breast.

"You are in love. You had better get somebody to act as interpreter for you."

Just then the doctor came up and interfered with my amusement. He said, as he seated himself beside me, "If it is not impertinent, may I ask how long you have been a widow?"

"About two years," I replied.

One of the young Spaniards, who could understand a little English, said to his companion, "She is a young widow."

"That makes no difference," said the other.

I said to the doctor, "I wonder if we can see any fish?" and walked to the side and looked overboard.

I stood quite close to Pablo, the young man whom I supposed to be falling in love with me, and as we turned away, after looking into the water for a few moments, I dropped my handkerchief on purpose.

The Spaniard picked it up, and, touching my arm, handed it to me, raising his sombrero politely as he did so.

I smiled, and thanked him in his native tongue. It was most amusing to see the expression of horror that overspread his countenance as he heard me, and thus discovered that I must have understood the conversation he had been holding with his friend.

So soon as the doctor left me, he advanced, and, taking off his hat, asked me if I was a Spaniard. I replied that I was of Spanish descent; whereupon he began the most profuse apologies, and hoped that my ladyship was not offended at the remarks that had passed between himself and friend. I said that so far from being offended, I felt highly complimented by the flattering opinions that had been expressed with regard to me; and thereupon the young gentleman and I started a flirtation that lasted for the .balance of the voyage, and that, in addition to being agreeable enough in itself, had the effect of keeping the doctor somewhat at a distance. He was most solicitous for us to visit Spain, and was not satisfied until he extorted from my brother a promise to do so.

This young gentleman continued his attentions to myself after we got to London; and on account of some sight-seeing, in which he had planned to have my company, he and his