about 9:30 p.m.
I never actually heard what was the nature of the momentous communication which the gallant second lieutenant wished so suddenly to make to his host ; but from the length of time that they remained closeted together , and the remark of Don Manuel when they at length reappeared -- `` Very well , my dear sir , then that is settled ; upon the conditions I have named you can have her , '' -- I made a pretty shrewd guess at it . In the meantime Dona Antonia had reappeared , very little the worse for her adventure ; she was very pale , it is true , and she became perceptibly paler when , with that want of tact which is one of my most marked characteristics , I abruptly told her that we were on the point of leaving her to rejoin our ship . But she amply redeemed this want of colour by the deep rosy flush with which she greeted Smellie 's approach and the low whispered request in response to which she placed her hand on his arm and retired with him to the verandah . It was about 9:30 p.m. when they reappeared , Smellie looking very grave , but at the same time rather exultant , and poor Antonia in tears , which she made no attempt whatever to conceal . I was , of course , all ready to start at a moment 's notice . We had no preparations to make , in fact , and we at once proceeded to the disagreeable task of saying farewell to our kind and generous host . It was a painful business ; for though we had not known Don Manuel and his daughter very long , we had still known them quite long enough to have acquired for them both a very large measure of esteem and regard -- in Smellie 's case there could no longer be the least doubt that his feelings toward his hostess were even warmer than this -- so we hurried over the leave-taking with all speed , and then set off down the pathway , under Pedro 's guidance , on our road to the creek .