But it is one of which I entreat you not to force me to speak." Dona Ana softly passed her arm through his.
"I am not used to walking so fast," she said, by way of explanation.
"But, my dear Mendoza," she went on, pressing his arm a little, "you do not think that I shall let what you tell me go further and reach any one else--do you?
How can I be of any use to you, if you have no confidence in me?
Are we not relatives?
You must treat me as I treat you." Mendoza wished that he could.
"Madam," he said almost roughly, "I have shut my daughter up in her own room and bolted the door, and to-morrow I intend to send her to a convent, and there she shall stay until she changes her mind, for I will not change mine" "Oh!" ejaculated Dona Ana, with a long intonation, as if grasping the position of affairs by degrees.

"I understand," she said, after a long time.

"But then you and I are of the same opinion, my dear friend.

Let us talk about this." Mendoza did not wish to talk of the matter at all, and said nothing, as they slowly advanced.

They had at last reached the passage that ended at his door, and he slackened his pace still more, obliging his companion, whose arm was still in his, to keep pace with him.