She found herself repeating "No! no! no!" with the dogged reiteration of fever.

She scarcely knew when or how she reached the _hacienda_.

She was only conscious that as she entered the _patio_ the dusky solitude that had before filled her with unrest now came to her like balm.

A benumbing peace seemed to fall from the crumbling walls; the peace of utter seclusion, isolation, oblivion, death! Nevertheless, an hour later, when the jingle of spurs and bridle were again heard in the road, she started to her feet with bent brows and a kindling eye, and confronted Captain Poindexter in the corridor.
"I would not have intruded upon you so soon again," he said gravely, "but I thought I might perhaps spare you a repetition of the scene of this morning.

Hear me out, please," he added, with a gentle, half deprecating gesture, as she lifted the beautiful scorn of her eyes to his.