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curtain was thrust aside； and a lady； somewhat strangely
attired； stepped forth upon the terrace。
'Senorito；' said she； and there was a rich thrill in her
voice； like an organ note； 'Senorito； you are in
difficulties。 Suffer me to come to your assistance。'
With the words； she took the paper and tobacco from his
unresisting hands； and with a facility that； in Desborough's
eyes； seemed magical； rolled and presented him a cigarette。
He took it； still seated； still without a word； staring with
all his eyes upon that apparition。 Her face was warm and
rich in colour； in shape； it was that piquant triangle； so
innocently sly； so saucily attractive； so rare in our more
northern climates； her eyes were large； starry； and visited
by changing lights； her hair was partly covered by a lace
mantilla； through which her arms； bare to the shoulder；
gleamed white； her figure； full and soft in all the womanly
contours； was yet alive and active； light with excess of
life； and slender by grace of some divine proportion。
'You do not like my cigarrito； Senor？' she asked。 'Yet it is
better made than yours。' At that she laughed； and her
laughter trilled in his ear like music； but the next moment
her face fell。 'I see；' she cried。 'It is my manner that
repels you。 I am too constrained； too cold。 I am not；' she
added； with a more engaging air； 'I am not the simple English
maiden I appear。'
'Oh！' murmured Harry； filled with inexpressible thoughts。
'In my own dear land；' she pursued； 'things are differently
ordered。 There； I must own； a girl is bound by many and
rigorous restrictions； little is permitted her； she learns to
be distant； she learns to appear forbidding。 But here； in
free England … oh； glorious liberty！' she cried； and threw up
her arms with a gesture of inimitable grace … 'here there are
no fetters； here the woman may dare to be herself entirely；
and the men； the chivalrous men … is it not written on the
very shield of your nation； HONI SOIT？ Ah； it is hard for me
to learn； hard for me to dare to be myself。 You must not
judge me yet awhile； I shall end by conquering this
stiffness； I shall end by growing English。 Do I speak the
language well？'
'Perfectly … oh； perfectly！' said Harry； with a fervency of
conviction worthy of a graver subject。
'Ah； then；' she said； 'I shall soon learn； English blood ran
in my father's veins； and I have had the advantage of some
training in your expressive tongue。 If I speak already
without accent； with my thorough English appearance； there is
nothing left to change except my manners。'
'Oh no；' said Desborough。 'Oh pray not！ I … madam … '
'I am；' interrupted the lady； 'the Senorita Teresa Valdevia。
The evening air grows chill。 Adios； Senorito。' And before
Harry could stammer out a word； she had disappeared into her
room。
He stood transfixed； the cigarette still unlighted in his
hand。 His thoughts had soared above tobacco； and still
recalled and beautified the image of his new acquaintance。
Her voice re…echoed in his memory； her eyes； of which he
could not tell the colour； haunted his soul。 The clouds had
risen at her coming； and he beheld a new…created world。 What
she was； he could not fancy； but he adored her。 Her age； he
durst not estimate； fearing to find her older than himself；
and thinking sacrilege to couple that fair favour with the
thought of mortal changes。 As for her character； beauty to
the young is always good。 So the poor lad lingered late upon
the terrace； stealing timid glances at the curtained window；
sighing to the gold laburnums； rapt into the country of
romance； and when at length he entered and sat down to dine；
on cold boiled mutton and a pint of ale； he feasted on the
food of gods。
Next day when he returned to the terrace； the window was a
little ajar； and he enjoyed a view of the lady's shoulder； as
she sat patiently sewing and all unconscious of his presence。
On the next； he had scarce appeared when the window opened；
and the Senorita tripped forth into the sunlight； in a
morning disorder； delicately neat； and yet somehow foreign；
tropical； and strange。 In one hand she held a packet。
'Will you try；' she said； 'some of my father's tobacco … from
dear Cuba？ There； as I suppose you know； all smoke； ladies
as well as gentlemen。 So you need not fear to annoy me。 The
fragrance will remind me of home。 My home； Senor； was by the
sea。' And as she uttered these few words； Desborough； for
the first time in his life； realised the poetry of the great
deep。 'Awake or asleep； I dream of it： dear home； dear
Cuba！'
'But some day；' said Desborough； with an inward pang； 'some
day you will return？'
' Never！' she cried； 'ah； never； in Heaven's name！'
'Are you then resident for life in England？' he inquired；
with a strange lightening of spirit。
'You ask too much； for you ask more than I know；' she
answered sadly； and then； resuming her gaiety of manner：
'But you have not tried my Cuban tobacco；' she said。
'Senorita；' said he； shyly abashed by some shadow of coquetry
in her manner； 'whatever comes to me … you … I mean；' he
concluded； deeply flushing； 'that I have no doubt the tobacco
is delightful。'
'Ah； Senor；' she said； with almost mournful gravity； 'you
seemed so simple and good； and already you are trying to pay
compliments … and besides；' she added； brightening； with a
quick upward glance； into a smile； 'you do it so badly！
English gentlemen； I used to hear； could be fast friends；
respectful； honest friends； could be companions； comforters；
if the need arose； or champions； and yet never encroach。 Do
not seek to please me by copying the graces of my countrymen。
Be yourself： the frank； kindly； honest English gentleman
that I have heard of since my childhood and still longed to
meet。'
Harry； much bewildered； and far from clear as to the manners
of the Cuban gentlemen； strenuously disclaimed the thought of
plagiarism。
'Your national seriousness of bearing best becomes you；
Senor；' said the lady。 'See！' marking a line with her
dainty； slippered foot； 'thus far it shall be common ground；
there； at my window…sill； begins the scientific frontier。 If
you choose； you may drive me to my forts； but if； on the
other hand； we are to be real English friends； I may join you
here when I am not too sad； or； when I am yet more graciously
inclined； you may draw your chair beside the window and teach
me English customs； while I work。 You will find me an apt
scholar； for my heart is in the task。' She laid her hand
lightly upon Harry's arm； and looked into his eyes。 'Do you
know；' said she； 'I am emboldened to believe that I have
already caught something of your English aplomb？ Do you not
perceive a change； Senor？ Slight； perhaps； but still a
change？ Is my deportment not more open； more free； more like
that of the dear 〃British Miss〃 than when you saw me first？'
She gave a radiant smile； withdrew her hand from Harry's arm；
and before the young man could formulate in words the
eloquent emotions that ran riot through h