As I reflected thus, the long loud blast of a trumpet broke upon the silence of the night, and admonished me to depart.

I hurried to my room to make my few preparations for the road; but Mike had already anticipated everything here, and all was in readiness.
But one thing now remained,--to make my adieu to the senhora.

With this intent, I descended a narrow winding stair which led from my dressing-room, and opened by a little terrace upon the flower-garden beside her apartments.
As I crossed the gravelled alley, I could not but think of the last time I had been there.

It was on the eve of departure for the Douro.

I recalled the few and fleeting moments of our leave-taking, and a thought flashed upon me,--what if she cared for me! What if, half in coquetry, half in reality, her heart was mixed up in those passages which daily association gives rise to?
I could not altogether acquit myself of all desire to make her believe me her admirer; nay, more, with the indolent _abandon_ of my country, I had fallen into a thousand little schemes to cheat the long hours away, which, having no other object than the happiness of the moment, might yet color all her after-life with sorrow.
Let no one rashly pronounce me a coxcomb, vain and pretentious, for all this.