"Oh, father, how kind you are! You really mean it now. You pledge your word to grant me what I ask of you?"
"Yes, yes, little obstinate, I do pledge my word."
The girl danced with delight, as she clapped her pretty little hands, and warmly embraced her father.
"On my word, this little girl is mad!" the Marquis said, with a smile.
"Yes, father, mad with delight; for I hope soon to prove to you that your fortune has never been more flourishing than it now is."
"Why, her mind is wandering now."
"No, father," said Don Ruiz, who, with his eyes fixed on his sister, was listening with sustained interest, and was attentively following the play of her flexible face, on which the varied emotions that agitated her were reflected; "I believe, on the contrary, that Marianna is at this moment revolving in her mind some strange scheme, for carrying out which she requires full and entire liberty."
"You have read the truth, Ruiz. Yes, I have a great project in my head; but in order that it may be thoroughly successful, I must be mistress of my actions, without control or remarks, from eight o'clock this evening till midnight. Do you grant me this power, father?"
"I have promised it," Don Hernando replied, with a smile. "A gentleman has only his word; as you desire, from eight o'clock till midnight you will be sole mistress of the hacienda: no one, not even myself, will have the right to make a remark about your conduct. Must I announce this officially to our people?" he added, sportively.
"It is unnecessary, father: only two persons need be told."