How he ever got through that wild introductory moment without making a show of himself, Anthony never knew, for his first overwhelming impulse was to seize the girl and never let her escape.  It was the same feeling he had had at Las Savannas, only ten times harder to resist.  The general confusion, perhaps, helped to hide his emotion, for around them eddied a constant human tide, through which at last came Mr. Cortlandt and the other members of his party.  There were more introductions, more bows and polite exchanges of words which had the maddening effect of distracting Miss Garavel’s attention.  Then, by some glorious miracle, Kirk found himself moving toward the open air at her side, with Mrs. Cortlandt and the banker in advance of them.

“Oh, Chiquita,” he said, softly, “I thought I’d never find you.  I’ve hunted everywhere.”

At the tremulous intensity of his tone, she gave an uncertain laugh and flashed him a startled glance.

“Chiquita is not my name,” she said, reprovingly.

“Yes, it is; it must be.  I can’t think of you by any other.  Hasn’t it been whispering at my ears ever since you said it?  It has nearly driven me mad.”

“Senor Antonio!  I have seen you but once.”

“I have seen you every day, every hour-”

“Indeed?”

“I can’t see anything else.  Don’t you understand?”

“You forget that we have but just been introduced.”

“Don’t be offended; you see, I can’t realize that I have found you at last.  When I learned you had gone away, I thought I would surely-”

“I have been nowhere.”

“Didn’t you go away on a ship?”

“That is absurd!  I have remained always in my father’s house.”

“Then wait until I catch that boy of mine!  Didn’t you know I was looking for you?  Couldn’t you feel it?”

“Indeed, why should I imagine such things?”

“Why, if you couldn’t feel a thing like that, you can’t love me.”

“Of a certainly not,” she gasped.  “You should not joke about such things.”

“I’m not joking; I never was so serious in my life.  I-I’m afraid I can’t tell you everything-it all wants to come out at once.  Why didn’t you come back as you promised?”

“It was Stephanie-she is such a ferocious person!  I was brought to the city that day-but no, senor.  I did not promise.  I said only ‘perhaps.’”

“Have you done your penance?”

“It was finished yesterday.  This is the first time I have been out.  Oh, it is delightful.  The music-the people!”

“And I can come to see you now?”

“Very well do you know that you cannot.  Have you not learned our customs?” Then, with an abrupt and icy change of tone:  “I forget.  Of course you are familiar with those customs, since you have become the wooer of Miss Torres.”

“Oh, Lord!  Where did you hear about that?”

“So!  It is true.  You are fickle, senor-or is it that you prefer dark people?”