"I suppose you understand your mother tongue. It is as I said; you leave here this evening."
"Oh, uncle! Where—where am I to go?"
"That you will find out later. Pack her duds, Ana."
Ana trembled in every limb. She arose to obey. Raquel threw herself on the bare floor at Escobeda's feet.
"Oh, uncle!" she said. "What have I done to be sent away? Will you not tell me where I am going?"
The girl cried in terror. She wept as a little child weeps, without restraint. "I am so young, uncle. I have no home but this. Do not send me away!"
Escobeda looked down at the childish figure on the ground before him, but not a ray of pity entered his soul, for between Raquel's face and his he saw that of Silencio, whose father had been his father's enemy as well as his own. He felt sure that soon or late Silencio would have the girl. He spoke his thoughts aloud.
"I suppose he would even marry you to spite me," he said.
"Who, uncle? Of whom do you speak?"
"You know well enough; but I shall spoil his game. Get her ready, Ana; we start this afternoon."