"You never addressed me in Spanish; what strange musical language was it you spoke to me in ?" She shot a timid glance at my face and looked troubled at the question, but made no reply.
"Senor," said the old man, "that is a question which you must excuse my child from answering.

Not, sir, from want of will, for she is docile and obedient, though I say it, but there is no answer beyond what I can tell you.

And this is, sir, that all creatures, whether man or bird, have the voice that God has given them; and in some the voice is musical and in others not so." "Very well, old man," said I to myself; "there let the matter rest for the present.

But if I am destined to live and not die, I shall not long remain satisfied with your too simple explanation." "Rima," I said, "you must be fatigued; it is thoughtless of me to keep you standing here so long." Her face brightened a little, and bending down, she replied in a low voice: "I am not fatigued, sir.

Let me get you something to eat now." She moved quickly away to the fire, and presently returned with an earthenware dish of roasted pumpkin and sweet potatoes and, kneeling at my side, fed me deftly with a small wooden spoon.