Juanita stopped short.
"Oh, I wish I had not come!" she exclaimed.
"You can go back," said Marcos slowly; "it is not too late. You can still go back if you want to."
But Juanita only laughed at him.
"And know for the rest of my life that I am a miserable coward. And it is of cowards that nuns are made; no, thank you. I will carry it through now. Come along. Come and get married."
She gave a laugh as she led the way. When they reached the road they were in the full moonlight, and for the first time could see each other.
"What is the matter?" said Juanita suddenly. "Your face looks white; there is something I do not understand in it."
"Nothing," answered Marcos. "Nothing. We must be quick."
"You are sure you are keeping nothing back from me?" she asked, glancing shrewdly at him as she walked by his side.
"Nothing," he answered, for the first time, and very conscientiously telling her an untruth. For he was keeping back the crux of the whole affair which he thought she was too young to be told or to understand.