"I am the most miserably happy person in the world, for I have just this moment begun to believe that the young lady likes me a little bit."
"Oh! But I forgot the real reason why I came. I have something I must tell you."
"All right. But honestly now, didn't you WANT to come?"
She turned upon him in a little burst of passion. "Yes!" she cried. "Of course I did! I wished to come, madly, senor. There is no use to lie. But wait! It is wholly because I am a-what you call fleert-a very sad fleert." No one could possibly describe the quaint pronunciation she gave the word. "It makes my heart patter, like that"—she made her little fingers "patter"-"to be wooed even by a Yankee. But I do not love you in the least. Oh no! Even if I wished to do so, there are too many reasons why I could not, and when I explain you will understand."
"I know; it's Ramon Alfarez. You're half-way engaged to him—but you know you don't love him."
"Ah! It is not too sure. He is of fine family, he is rich, he is handsome-not possibly could I care for any man who was not all of those. All my life I have thought him a very sweet gentleman, and for a long time it has been agreed that I should be his wife. Even all the young ladies are furious at me, which is very nice also-so it is only because I am disobedient that I rebelled. But I was punished for my evil disposition." She sighed mournfully. "And now it is all arranged once more."
"Is it really signed, sealed, stamped, and delivered in the presence of?"
"No, no; but 'Arco siempre armado'-"
"Of course. Is that a prescription?"
'"A bow long bent grows weak.' And there are so many reasons why I should say yes."