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Nan's unspoken question was not completed, for out of the alley darted a street urchin of about Inez's age, who snatched the bag of cakes out of the girl's hand and ran, shrieking, back into the dark alley. "Oh! the rascal!" gasped the taller of the two girls. The other burst into tears and they were very real tears, too!
He would turn his thoughts, with sudden effort, to his occult studies, or occupy himself in some perplexing process; but often, when he had partially succeeded in fixing his attention, the sound of Inez's lute, or the soft notes of her voice, would come stealing upon the stillness of the chamber, and, as it were, floating round the tower.
Be your own simple, natural, dear little self, and there will not be a lady at Aunt Helena's able to shine you down." And when an hour after, she descended, in a sweeping robe of silvery blue, white lilies in her yellow hair, and pale pearls clasping her slim throat, she looked fair as a dream. Inez's black eyes flashed angrily as they fell upon her.
Some woman's hate had bared the truth in a flash, and there were hundreds of hands in the hall that were ready to take his life instead of Mendoza's; and he knew it, and was afraid. The agonized cry that had been first heard in the hall had come from Inez's lips. When she had fled from her father, she had regained her hiding-place in the gallery above the throne room.
Two years later Dom Affonso died, and after Dom Pedro had caught and tortured to death two of the murderers the third escaped to Castile he in 1361 had Dona Inez's body removed from its grave, dressed in the royal robes and crowned, and swearing that he had really married her, he compelled all the court to pay her homage and to kiss her hand: then the body was placed on a bier and carried by night to the place prepared for it at Alcobaça, some seventy miles away.
They raced, all three, with flying plaits and curls, much kicking-up of long black legs, and a frank display of frills and tuckers. Laura won; for Inez's wind gave out half way, and Bertha was heavy of foot. Leaning against the palings Laura watched the latter come puffing up to join her Bertha with the shameful secret in the background, of a mother who was not like other mothers.
By degrees the moon rose and shed her gleaming light among the groves. Antonio apparently listened with fixed attention to the sage, but his ear was drinking in the melody of Inez's voice, who was singing to her lute in one of the moonlight glades of the garden. The old man, having exhausted his theme, sat gazing in silent reverie at the heavens.
"I suppose he knows whom we mean?" worried Bess. "Couldn't be any mistake about that," Walter said. "He is afraid she is sick." "I'm not," Nan said promptly. "It is just as Mrs. Beasley says. If her aunt took Inez's basket and money away, she is out of business. She's lost her capital. I only hope she is not hungry, poor thing." "Dear, dear!" joined in Bess. "If she only knew how to come to us!
The upshot of it was that your parents were put ashore on Double Island, with a fairly good amount of food and other supplies." "How long ago?" "Where is a Double Island?" "Can't we start and rescue them?" "What of Inez's father?"
I was about to reply when, to my horror I must confess, my eye encountered that of Don Luis, Inez's father, as he stepped forward and laid his hand somewhat sternly on his daughter's shoulder. "There, Inez," said he, "that will do. You are doubtless overjoyed to again meet a friend who possesses so large a share of our regard; but do not allow your enthusiasm to carry you too far.
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