"But clothes, clothes," Anita urged her plea.
"Oh, clothes!" Terrence set this suggestion scornfully aside. "This is war time, and anyway no one should bother about clothes. What about that pretty blue dress?"
"This? Oh, it is as old as the hills."
"I don't think the question of clothes need be an insuperable objection," acknowledged Mrs. Beltrán. "What we cannot supply here we can find in Barcelona."
"Bless you for saying that," cried Terrence. "That matter settled what is in the way?"
"Nothing but Aunt Manning," Mrs. Beltrán was obliged to admit.
"Then thrice blessed lady, won't you please interview her as soon as possible? There she is now, coming out of the greenhouse."
Mrs. Beltrán agreed and with Pepé left the room. In a few moments they heard voices in eager argument in the next room.
"You are all taking a mean advantage of me," pouted Anita, left alone with her lover.
"It is my revenge for your deceiving me so absolutely that day at The Beeches. How could you do it, Nancy, after I had confessed that you were still so dear to me?"