"_Whose_ slave could she be, when she was Papasito's wife, and he loved her so?
It is impossible, Madame." "Your father bought her when she was very young, my dear; but I know very well that no wife was ever loved better than she was." "But she always lived with her own father till she married papa," said Floracita.

"How then _could_ she be his slave ?" "Her father got into trouble about money, my dear; and he sold her." "Our Grandpapa Gonsalez sold his daughter!" exclaimed Rosa.

"How incredible! Dear friend, I wonder you can believe such things." "The world is full of strange things, my child,--stranger than anything you ever read in story-books." "If she was only Papasito's slave," said Flora, "I don't think Mamita found _that_ any great hardship." "She did not, my dear.

I don't suppose she ever thought of it; but a great misfortune has grown out of it." "What is it ?" they both asked at once.
Their friend hesitated.

"Remember, you have promised to be calm," said she.