She peeped shyly over the top of her fan a few times, then summoned courage to say:
"You no can dance—valse?"
He smiled drolly.
"Oh yes, dear, I can dance well. But—but—I think I am too ugly to find a partner."
"No, señor; no, no. A good heart is yours. I see it in your eye. Come, dance with me."
And she waltzed with him almost continually till the poseda closed.
Kind-hearted was she not?
* * * * * * * * * * *
Well, after a few days spent here the yacht was taken over to Ciudad Bolivar, in the neighbourhood of which was Miguel's house. Here dwelt this rich roving lad's mother, and he was the only son. The father had been a man who for many years held very high rank in the country, but the excitement of business and politics killed him at last.
I wish I had time and space to linger over the happy life those young sailors spent for over a fortnight at Miguel's mansion. His little sister—strange to say, she was blue-eyed—took quite a fancy to the Ugly Duckling. It might have been a case of Beauty and the Beast! Some ill-natured beings would not have hesitated to say so, but Natina saw only the boy's mind, and his kindly ways and manners.