"Ah, my child," said Don Gonzales, meeting his daughter, "put on thy
best looks, for we are to have the new lieutenant-governor installed
to-morrow, and all of us must be present. He's a soldier of much
renown, so report says."
"Doubtless, father; but I'm not very well to-day, and shall be
hardly able to go to-morrow--at least I fear I shall not."
"Fie, fie, my daughter; thou, the prettiest bird in all the island,
to absent thyself from the presence on such an occasion? It will
never do."
"Here, Ruez, leave that hound alone, and come hither," he continued,
to the boy. "You, too, must be ready at an early hour to-morrow to
go with Isabella and myself to the palace, where we shall be
introduced to the new lieutenant-governor, just arrived from
Madrid."
"I don't want to go, father," said the boy, still fondling the dog.
"Why not, Ruez?"
"Because Isabella does not," was the childish reply.
"Now if this be not rank mutiny, and I shall have to call in a
corporal's guard to arrest the belligerents," said Don Gonzales,
half playfully. "But go you must; and I have a secret, but I shall
not tell it to you-no, not for the world-a surprise for you both;
but that's no matter now.
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