In the midst of their agitation they heard some one weeping; there
came a rush of feet down the hallway, and the next instant
Evangelina flung herself into the room. A summer moon flooded the
chamber with radiance and enabled her to see the two small white
figures sitting up in the middle of the bed.
Evangelina fell upon her knees before them. "Little master! Little
mistress!" she sobbed. "You will save me, won't you? We love each
other, eh? See then, what a crime this is! Say that you will save
me!" She was beside herself, and her voice was hoarse and cracked
from grief. She wrung her hands, she rocked herself from side to
side, she kissed the twins' nightgowns, tugging at them
convulsively.
The children were frightened, but they managed to quaver: "What
has happened? Who has harmed you?"
"Don Pablo Peza," wept the negress. "Your father has sold me to
him--lost me at cards. Oh, I shall die! Sebastian won't believe
it. He is praying. And Asensio--O God! But what can they do to
help me? You alone can save me. You won't let Don Pablo take me
away? It would kill me."
"Wait!" Esteban scrambled out of bed and stood beside his dusky
nurse and playmate. "Don't cry any more. I'll tell papa that you
don't like Don Pablo."
Rosa followed. "Yes, come along, brother," she cried, shrilly.
"We'll tell Don Pablo to go home and leave our Evangelina.
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