ever so much more--than a good many such frivolous people as you or I.
You will see her yourself to-morrow. She is coming across with us to Las
Palmas, and, of course, if you would like to please me----"

"That goes without saying. To-morrow we will endeavour to turn this ship
upside down. It usually has to be done when we have the honour of
carrying a lady from any part of provincial England."

"I really don't want very much," and Jacinta smiled at him. "Just the
big forward room for her, and the seat next me at the top of your table.
The nicest things have a way of getting there. Then she is fond of
fruit--and if you could get any of the very big Moscatel, and some of
that membrillo jelly. A few bunches of roses would look nice at our end
of the table, too."

"Well," said Austin, with a little whimsical gesture of resignation,
"there is, as you know, a Spanish Commandante and his wife in that
forward room, but I suppose we shall have to turn them out. The other
things will naturally follow, but I'm afraid Major-domo Antonio will
call us dreadful names to-morrow."

Jacinta rose. "You are as nice as I expected you would be," she said.
"Now it is getting chilly, and I have a letter to write."

She smiled at him and went forward, walking, though she was English,
with a curious buoyant gracefulness as Spanish women do, while Austin
sat still and considered the position. He was quite aware that he would
have trouble with the Spanish Commandante as well as his Major-domo on
the morrow, but that was, after all, of no great importance. When
Jacinta wanted anything she usually obtained it, and it was not a little
to be counted among her friends, since she frequently contrived to do a
good deal for them. There were men as well as women in those islands who
owed more than they were aware of to Jacinta Brown.

Austin sighed as he remembered it, for he was a penniless sobrecargo,
and she, in those islands, at least, a lady of station. It must be
sufficient for him to do what little he could to please her, and he had,
in fact, once or twice done a good deal. He took life easily, but there
was in him a vein of chivalry, which for the most part, however, found
somewhat whimsical expression. Then he recollected that he had still

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