The Velvet Glove

n the girls were allowed to walk for an hour in the garden and talk. Talking, it must be remembered, as an indulgence of the flesh, is considered

r once said to Evasio Mon, one of the lay directors of thi

olgirl's friendship is like the seed of grass, blown hither and thither;

waiting for the clock of San Fernando to strike seven. Juanita had told her friend of the chocolates--all soft inside--which were to come through the hole

fruit-trees and a few cypress. Where the stream runs there are bunches of waving bamboos, and at the l

by side, casting demure and not unkindly glances from time to time towards their gay charges. Juanita and her friend had, as elder girls, certain privileges, and wer

hole, and, hastily turning back her sleeve, thrust her arm through. Her hand came out through the flowers with an inconsequent, childish flourish o

ackets must be small or th

id. But she seemed to have forgotten the choco

hing black. I see. It is your horse; you are on horseback. Is it the Moor? Have you ridden

rough the flowers again

ace; and yet I am afraid. I am afraid of something, Marcos, and I do not know what it is. It was all right when

os, the matter-of-fact, at

define. I am not a coward, you know, but sometimes I am afraid and feel

o good," rep

in the world and yet be saved; to be quite saf

, I

le Ramon

replied

, with a sigh. "I'm sure mine is. I am

after remedies, and never discussed matters wh

ly wicked. No one seems to think it possible th

not want t

e of the world to come. I do not even want it then. But when I go into the world, like last Sunday, Marcos, and see the shops, and Uncle Ramon and you, then I hate the thought of it. And when I touched the dear old Moor's s

and she thrust her hand t

she asked. "Why d

nd and held it

at by the side of the river, when one of the trout would not come out of the Wolf and you

ut y

I am quite happy here. At least, I think I am. Where are the chocolates? I believe you have eaten t

ded the little neat pa

rcos. Somehow you never say things, but

of here," he answere

tled ring in her voice. "Can

. But I can do it if you are in real danger of going int

gain, with a deepe

the necessity arises. It is a secret, and y

you are right. But you will co

e you a note, in case there should have been no time to speak to y

es

is hand through the hole

ta. "You see I have

gravely. "You have

of the wall, he smil

e one coming. I can see through the leaves. It is Sor Teresa. And she has some o

h the dew on the woodbine. He galloped up the hill, close under the wall, and put his wil

himself visible from one part or another of the c

e from the nut trees and join her friend, but ne

oot and can save myself a considerable distanc

ered Sor Teresa. "It is scarcely

man," said Mon, with his pleasant

on the bunch han

ather reluctantly, "

o seemed to be looking the other way and yet

gentle smile over the lower wall of the garden, where the

h you always in case it should be wanted, as

obedience, and there is no nunnery that is not under the immediate and unquestioned

as placed in Sor Teresa's hands,

said, "which is the right

gered them,

sharply, though his

re looking are the keys of cupboards and not of do

nightingales were singing as he passed beneath the boughs, followed by Sor Teresa. Juanita h

aid Mon, affably, as he stooped to

turned to salute Sor Teresa befor

e said, bowing with a raise

that skirts the convent wall. But on the sun-baked ground, the neat, light feet of the Moor had made no mark. He looked

oined the high road from the Casa Blanca, crossing the canal again by that bri

m the trees opposite to the gate of the town called th

as scribbled in pencil on a half

colates. The next time please put in some almonds. Milagros so lov

mistake in t