CHAPTER XIX
My Boy!
That Aunt Betsy Potter should have anything to do with the destinies of the Beltrán family was furthest from anyone's calculations, yet from humble sources may spring great events, and Aunt Betsy, as many times before in her life, was the agency through which good came about.
It had never occurred to Anita and Lillian that the young Spaniard who had called on Aunt Betsy and of whom she had spoken to the two girls, might possibly be a person whom it would be worth while to inquire about, but with Mr. Kirkby it was different and he, being a most thorough person, was not going to let this Mr. Abercrombie drop out of sight without more investigation. He reasoned that if Mr. Abercrombie and his nephew had been in Chichester, probably they knew some one there. He would ask each one of his acquaintances about it, even Aunt Betsy. It might very possibly be he who had called with the nephew, or stay, it might not be the nephew, after all, but some friend of his and one or the other might know something of Pepé, for had he not left Spain in company with an elderly Englishman? Very possibly they had met. It would do no harm to inquire. As it happened, the first person to whom he did put his questions was Aunt Betsy Potter.
"What about this visitor from Spain you had awhile ago, Aunt Bets?" the rector began.
"The young man, sir? It was some time ago. 'E was a fine upstanding young man."
"He came with his uncle, did he not? Do you remember his name?"
"It's been such a time, sir, that I'm afraid I disremember the name. The gentleman 'e came with is a furriner."
"A foreigner? I didn't know you were acquainted with any foreigners."
"Oh, yes, sir. This one be from the States, sir. 'E boarded with me years ago when I lived in 'Ampshire. 'E was with me one summer for several weeks, and 'e be always sending me purty pictur cards. I've a gurt pile of 'em. 'E's an unaccountable kind man. I've known 'im on and off for a gurt many years."