"In time I shall, and you will be an American, too, Nancy, for a woman is what her husband is."
"I'd marry you for that if for nothing else," said Anita saucily. "My first conscious belief in my nationality was that I was an American and I have never given up my feeling of loyalty. I love Spain and I love old England, but when I get back I shall salute Old Glory and sing 'My Country, 'tis of Thee.'"
"About that going back, and about our leaving here," said Terrence. "We shall all be going to Spain and why should we not go as one family? Dear Mrs. Beltrán, come over to my side, you and Pepé, and say that you approve of our being married before we leave."
"Oh, but so soon, so soon," faltered Anita.
"Have we not waited long enough?" pleaded Terrence. "Wouldn't you rather be married here in the midst of your relatives and friends with dear Mr. Kirkby to marry us than to wait till we are in a strange country among foreigners?"
"But Spain isn't a strange country and our friends there are dears," persisted Anita.
Terrence looked disappointed and turned to Mrs. Beltrán inquiringly. "Please help me," he said.
"When you implore me in such a feeling manner," she said, "I shall have to listen. I'm sure your plan would please Aunt Manning immensely. She will think you adopt it because she first proposed it. She loves to have one bow to her decrees, although I suppose she will be shocked at what might appear to be unseemly haste."
"Unseemly haste? Why, my dear lady, it has been more than two years," Terrence exclaimed.
"Very well, if you choose to put it that way to her, perhaps that point can be overlooked."