“Mother, mother,” she was moaning.
Aunt Isabel came to take her from her grief. Some of her girl friends had arrived and the Governor General also desired to talk with her.
“Aunt, tell them that I am ill!” begged the frightened maiden. “They wish to make me play the piano and sing.”
“Your father has promised it. You are not going to go back on your father?”
Maria Clara arose, looked at her aunt, clasped her beautiful arms about her and murmured: “Oh, if I had ...”
But, without finishing the sentence, she dried her tears and began to make her toilet.
Chapter XIX.
His Excellency.
“I want to speak with that young man,” said His Excellency to an adjutant. “He has awakened my interest.”