"
"My blessed doves! But will they listen to you?" moaned the slave.
"Papa does whatever we ask," they assured her, gravely. "If he
should growl we'll come back and hide you in the big wardrobe
where nobody will ever find you." Then hand in hand, with their
long nightgowns lifted to their knees, they pattered out into the
hall and down toward the living-room, whence came the shouting and
the laughter.
Don Mario de Castano, who was facing the door, stopped in the
midst of a ribald song to cry: "God be praised! What's this I
see?"
The others looked and then burst into merriment, for across the
litter of cards and dice and empty glasses they saw a dimpled girl
and boy, as like as two peas. They were just out of bed; they were
peering through the smoke, and blinking like two little owls.
Their evident embarrassment amused the guests hugely.
"So! You awaken the household with your songs," some one chided
Don Mario.
"Two cherubs from heaven," another exclaimed.
And a third cried, "A toast to Esteban's beautiful children."
But the father lurched forward, a frown upon his face. "What is
this, my dears?" he inquired, thickly. "Run back to your beds.
This is no place for you."
"We love Evangelina," piped the twins. "You must not let Don Pablo
have her--if you please."
"Evangelina?"
They nodded.
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