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 she has ever heard from his lips, Juanita grows as rosy as the morn and does not appear displeased.

"Is that dreadfully important work which has occupied so much of your time this evening yet finished?"

"Very nearly."

"And you can devote a little time to your friends?"

"I am ready to devote the remainder of my existence to one of them, senorita."

"Oh, what unselfishness! When do you expect to begin?"

"Whenever I have reason to believe that such devotion will be rewarded by"

"Reward? Then it is not a bit unselfish and does not deserve encouragement," interrupts the young lady, with a toss of her head.

"You are cruel, senorita," murmurs Ashley, but his voice does not betray a great deal of grief.

"I am just," declares Juanita. "While I have been sitting here at the mercy of a lot of frightfully stupid men, you have devoted your time to the entertainment of Mrs. Harding. Perhaps that was the devotion you alluded to a moment ago," ventures the young lady, with a pretty frown.

"Hardly," laughs Jack. "You do not know Mrs. Harding, senorita."

"Perhaps not as well as you, Senor Ashley. My opportunities have not been so good. I saw you come in from the garden. One would hardly judge that you had met her only half an hour ago."

"Oh, the fair Isabel and I are old friends," Ashley remarks, serenely.

"Indeed? Yet you told me"

"I will tell you more, senorita."

"I don't want to hear any more," opposes Juanita crossly. "You have deceived me once and I"

"Deceived thee? Ah, Juanita" Jack checks himself as he notes the flush of annoyance in her cheeks.

"Hello! There's the chap I've been looking for," suddenly remarks Ashley, as he catches a glimpse of Capt. Guerra over by the big staircase. "Will you pardon me