I shall serve them with tomatoes and olives , which I hope you will enjoy . I &apos;m sure I shall . your cooking &apos;s wonderful . Julia lingered on in the room for another few minutes , then she ventured cautiously downstairs again . Adrian was now sitting with the Portuguese engineer and his silent wife , and another man , discussing seafaring matters in English . Julia attached herself to Lieutenant Robson , reminding him he had promised to play dominoes with her again . their game lasted till nearly ten o&apos;clock when Se&amp;ntilde;ora Gonzalez commanded everybody inside for dinner . Adrian excused himself , said goodnight with a meaningful glance which Julia chose to ignore , and drove off in the jeep . Julia felt depressed and a trifle sad as Luis conveyed her to Don Felipe &apos;s house on Saturday morning . just before she left the Tafira , a message had been delivered from the shipping company , instructing her to be at their offices on the quay at seven o&apos;clock on Monday morning ready to embark in the Juno for Southampton , sailing punctually at ten . as she looked out at the white sunlit streets , and the palms and the flowers , with glimpses of the blue sea and the golden beaches between the buildings , Julia knew she did not want to leave all this so soon . yet in another forty-eight hours her holiday would be over , and she would be on her way back to the grey English winter and all the worries of finding a new job and a roof over her head . she sighed , thinking how unkind fate could be at times . the morning began just the same as the others . the old flower-woman sat in her usual place , and as Julia mounted the steps to the house , Alvaro opened the door and made his bow to her . Pepita was wheeling a little wicker cart round the pool today , the white cat sitting inside on a cushion . she rushed to meet her friend eagerly . Yoo-li-ah ! Yoo-li-ah ! when she had swept her curtsey , and held out the lace-trimmed flounce of her frock for admiration , Pepita led Julia off to help her push the cart . soon they were chattering away gaily . el helado , gurgled Pepita as the maid brought out two glass dishes . ice-cream , Julia insisted . they both thought it quite funny when they discovered chocolate was the same in both languages . suddenly Julia realised she was going to miss this little Spanish child , so full of affection and the simple joy of life . it was impossible to feel dull when Pepita was there . Julia said as much to Don Felipe when he came home . I have n&apos;t the heart to say goodbye , she remarked as they watched the maid pick up the little girl ready to carry her off to the nursery . I &apos;ve enjoyed Pepita so much . ah , yes . you propose to sail home in the Juno , do you not ? that &apos;s right , alas . and you will n&apos;t want me here tomorrow , as it &apos;s Sunday , of course . I must tell Pepita then , he said firmly . you can not be allowed to part without exchanging your farewells . it would not be courteous . he spoke rapidly in Spanish and the result was extraordinary . hastily the maid set the child down again and retreated into the background . Pepita stood there staring at Julia with all the happiness draining out of her pretty little face . her black eyes filled with anguish , the tears brimming over and coursing down her cheeks . without speaking a word , she flung herself upon Julia , seizing the girl round the knees . when Julia bent to try and comfort her , Pepita uttered a heartrending wail and then broke into a torrent of excited Spanish punctuated by screams and sobs . Pepita does not wish you to leave her , Don Felipe said quietly . she is desolate , as indeed I am myself . this is awful , Julia exclaimed in consternation . do please tell her to stop crying , Don Felipe . I can n&apos;t bear it . if you could explain it is n&apos;t that I really want to go home . I just have to . her father spoke to the child , but she went on weeping . Yoo-li-ah ! Yoo-li-ah ! she moaned beseechingly , still clinging to the girl &apos;s knees and refusing to be lifted up . oh , dear ! Julia exclaimed . whatever can I do ? you could remain in Las Palmas , Don Felipe pointed out . that would make my Pepita so happy again . it is rarely she finds a companion who is as congenial to her as you obviously are . but how can I stay ? Julia began . I only wish I could . I should be only too delighted to engage you as governess for Pepita , he answered . you would soon acquire sufficient Spanish to be able to help her with her first lessons . you could read to her , and sing with her and so on . enlarge her knowledge of English still more . it would not be arduous , and naturally I would pay you an ample salary . so will you not agree to spend the winter in Las Palmas , Miss Barclay , and dry Pepita &apos;s tears ? Julia hesitated . it was certainly an exciting offer , far more attractive than going back to London . she might continue to live at the Hotel Tafira for the next few months , enjoying the climate and the friendly beach and caf&amp;eacute; life . and there was Don Felipe himself , the handsome man watching her now with an unaccustomed trace of anxiety in his eyes . feminine intuition told Julia he wanted her to stay on for his own sake as well as Pepita &apos;s . it was flattering to know a man like this one considered you important to him . she realised she was weakening , but then all at once she remembered what she had heard the previous evening . yet it was probably no more than gossip that Mrs Henderson had repeated , and what Se&amp;ntilde;ora Gonzalez had told her cast no reflection on Don Felipe either . he could not be blamed for his father &apos;s state of mind . Adrian had said she might be running into danger with him , but Adrian could be wrong , and anyway it was no business of his what Julia Barclay did . he had no right to dictate to her , behaving in that high-handed fashion . she felt herself stiffening again as she remembered his voice and manner . she would show Adrian he was completely wrong , and stupidly old-fashioned at that . she found Don Felipe fascinating from every aspect . she lifted her eyes to smile at him now . you make it sound too tempting , she surrendered . very well , then , if you do really think I &apos;m capable of being Pepita &apos;s teacher . I &apos;ve never done anything of that sort before , you know . I am quite satisfied , he replied . so you will stay , Miss Barclay ? yes , I will . and thank you &amp;hellip; . do please tell Pepita . I can n&apos;t bear to see her like this . she watched the child &apos;s expression change as her father spoke to her . she ceased to sob and the light stole back into her face again . for a few moments she gazed up at Julia doubtfully , incredulously . then gradually the dark eyes grew bright once more , and even began to sparkle as was their wont . Julia lifted her up , and she immediately wound her small arms round the girl &apos;s neck , nuzzling her cheek , snuggling against her hair . Don Felipe smiled as he watched them . Pepita is restored , he said . we are both most grateful to you . there was a rustling sound behind them , and Julia half-turned to see Do&amp;ntilde;a Beatriz standing on the tiles . it was the first time Julia had ever met the older woman outside the dining-room . one moment Do&amp;ntilde;a Beatriz was in her vision , a tall black figure staring at the little scene . the next she was gone again . Julia was almost convinced her eyes must have deceived her . Pepita was finally carried off to the nursery , and as Don Felipe led the way indoors to luncheon , Do&amp;ntilde;a Beatriz was already there , sitting in her accustomed chair at the foot of the long table . she bowed gravely to Julia , acknowledging the girl &apos;s greeting , and began to serve in her usual silence . Julia had already realised there was something quite off-beat about Do&amp;ntilde;a Beatriz , so she was careful to address only Don Felipe at her side throughout the meal . they discussed the fiesta , which he waved aside as a trifling celebration in Las Palmas . in the country it is much more important , he said . harvest is something for which we offer gratitude indeed there . I shall be out at my own estate in the morning , marking the day with my workpeople . my land is around the village of San Bernardo , a beautiful valley with many foothills . I have a large house there beside the river . you must see it one day . yes , I should like to . you have not penetrated the interior of the island yet ? no ? it will surprise you . the mountains are so majestic they take the breath away when they are viewed for the first time . you &apos;ve another house at Tojeda , have n&apos;t you ? Julia remembered . on the cliffs - somebody was telling me - then she stopped abruptly , realising what she was saying . Don Felipe had begun to peel himself a peach . he completed the delicate operation before he answered . then he laid down his silver knife and looked at Julia directly as he spoke . so . people have talked about me . I wonder what else they said about Tojeda . no , do not trouble to tell me , Miss Barclay . I can guess . I know what scandal is tossed about in the caf&amp;eacute;s and hotels . Julia felt a trifle uncomfortable . I did n&apos;t really pay great attention , she began , but imperiously he cut her short . we will discuss this matter later , he said , when we may be private . now tell me , have you been to the aquariums yet ? &amp;hellip; as soon as the meal ended , Do&amp;ntilde;a Beatriz slipped away as usual and Don Felipe indicated that Julia was to follow him . we will go to my study , he decided . I have to speak to you about Pepita &apos;s education among other things . he led Julia to a wing of the house she had not seen before . like all the rest , this room was richly furnished , with handsome red brocade curtains , and a carved mahogany desk and chairs . Don Felipe unlocked a drawer and handed Julia an envelope . your salary to date , he explained . on Monday we begin our new arrangement , of course . I had thought &amp;hellip; . he named a figure which Julia knew was generous in the extreme . so you will be here at the same time then . the car will call for you as usual . thank you very much , Don Felipe . I &apos;ll do my best . she waited , thinking he was going to talk to her about his daughter , and what he wanted a governess to do , but Don Felipe made no mention of Pepita now . instead he frowned to himself for a moment , as though lost in thought . then he lifted his head and asked quietly : I wonder what tales you have heard about me , Miss Barclay . could you not repeat them to me ? well , I do n&apos;t quite know - Julia hesitated . Don Felipe twisted his lips into a wry smile . it was obviously unflattering to me , he remarked . but there is no need to be embarrassed , Miss Barclay . I know what is said on the island . loose tongues wag here just as they do everywhere else . Gran Canaria is certainly a paradise , but it has its serpents too . he paused to consider her . Julia returned his glance sympathetically , appreciating that it was not easy for this man to bare his innermost feelings . Don Felipe continued : you have plainly heard uncharitable comments about me , so you must permit me to tell you the facts myself . seven years ago I married the daughter of one of my fellow landowners , Don Miguel de Francia . we were deeply in love and very happy . after Pepita &apos;s birth , the doctors informed my wife that she could bear no more children . naturally it was a tremendous grief . we had hoped for sons to carry on our name . 