"Oh, Carlos, how good you have been to my son," said Doña Constancia. "If you had not brought him, he could not have come, and I should have gone away without seeing him."
"He might have been here before," said Evaña, "but Evaristo is a brave soldier, and his country could not spare him on the eve of a battle. I never told him you were going till the fight was over."
"I never saw any one in such a hurry to finish a fight," said Evaristo; "but for Viana he would have been killed twice over. Then when all was over he told me and we have galloped ever since."
"Don Carlos, I am so glad you have come," said Dolores, putting her hand in his.
Evaña drew her away from the others to a vacant corner behind the wheel, where they stood side by side, looking together at the shore.
"You are glad to see me, Lola," said Evaña.
Dolores started and her face was troubled as he spoke to her by this name, which he had never used but once before during all their long friendship, but quickly recovering herself she answered:
"Yes, so glad. You have been a true friend to me and mine, I have so much to thank you for, you managed it all so well. No one knows here that papa went with the mutineers, no one, not even mamma or Marcelino."
"I told you that I would be your friend, Lola, I have kept my word and you have kept yours. I have left the army and come here on purpose to see you once more, I have come to ask you to give me yet one promise."
"Tell me, you have only to ask me, I will promise what you wish."