"I will go, Querida," the old man said; "for today I take Mariano's place." And he left the rancho without awaiting an answer.
"Mother," the young lady continued, with a shade of anxiety, "where is my foster brother? I do not see him."
"Has not arrived yet, niña."
"What! Not arrived?"
"Oh, I trust he will soon be here," she said, while stifling a sigh.
The maiden looked at her for a moment sympathetically.
"What is the matter, mother?" she at length said, as she seized the poor woman's hand; "Can any accident have happened?"
"The Lord guard us from it, Querida," Luisa said, clasping her hands.
"Still, you are anxious, mother. You are hiding something from me. Tell me at once what it is."
"Nothing, my child; forgive me. Nothing extraordinary has occurred, and I am hiding nothing from you; but—"