LITMIR.BIZ

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the rail with an unsteady hand, she searched for an instant with cowardly eyes for mine, which made her blush; and then, kneeling down, she began to pick up the pistons.

      –Don't do that," I said, "I'll do it later.

      –I have a very good eye for small things," he replied; "let's see the little box.

      He reached out to meet her, exclaiming at the sight of her:

      –Oh, they've all been watered!

      –It wasn't full," I observed, helping him.

      –And that you need these tomorrow," he said, blowing the dust off the ones he held in the rosy palm of one of his hands.

      –Why tomorrow and why these?

      –Because, as this hunt is dangerous, I think that to miss a shot would be terrible, and I know from the little box that these are the ones the doctor gave you the other day, saying they were English and very good.....

      –You hear everything.

      –I would sometimes have given anything not to hear. Perhaps it would be better not to go on this hunt.... José left you a message with us.

      –Do you want me not to go?

      –And how could I demand that?

      –Why not?

      He looked at me and did not answer.

      –I think there is no more," said he, rising to his feet, and looking at the floor around him; "I am going. The coffee will be cold by this time.

      –Try it.

      –But don't finish loading that shotgun now..... It's good," he added, touching the cup.

      –I'll put the gun away and take it; but don't go away.

      I had gone into my room and come out again.

      –There's a lot to do in there.

      –Oh, yes," I replied, "preparing desserts and galas for tomorrow, so you're leaving?

      He made a movement with his shoulders, at the same time tilting his head to one side, which meant: as you wish.

      –I owe you an explanation," I said, approaching her. Do you want to hear me?

      –Didn't I say there are things I wouldn't want to hear? -he replied, rattling the pistons inside the box.

      –I thought that what I…

      –It is true what you are going to say; what you believe.

      –What?

      –That I should hear you; but not this time.

      –You must have thought badly of me these days!

      She read, without answering me, the signs on the cash register.

      –I will tell you nothing, then; but tell me what you have supposed.

      –What's the point?

      –You mean you won't allow me to apologise to you either?

      –What I should like to know is, why you have done that; but I am afraid to know, for I have given no reason for it; and I always thought you had some that I should not know..... But as you seem to be glad again – I am glad too.

      –I don't deserve you to be as good as you are to me.

      –Perhaps it is I who do not deserve....

      –I have been unjust to you, and if you would allow it, I would ask you on my knees to forgive me.

      His long-veiled eyes, shone with all their beauty, and he exclaimed:

      –Oh, no, my God! I've forgotten everything… do you hear well? everything! But on one condition," he added after a short pause.

      –Whatever you want.

      –The day I do or say something that displeases you, you will tell me; and I will never do or say it again. Isn't that easy?

      –And should I not demand the same from you?

      –No, for I cannot advise you, nor always know whether what I think is best; besides, you know what I am going to tell you, before I tell you.

      –Are you sure, then, that you will live convinced that I love you with all my soul? -I said, in a low, moved voice.

      –Yes, yes," he answered very quietly; and almost touching my lips with one of his hands to signify to me to be quiet, he took a few steps towards the drawing-room.

      –What are you going to do? -I said.

      –Can't you hear that John is calling me and crying because he can't find me?

      Undecided for a moment, in her smile there was such sweetness and such loving languor in her gaze, that she had already disappeared and I was still gazing at her in rapture.

      Chapter XXI

      The next day at dawn I took the mountain road, accompanied by Juan Angel, who was carrying some of my mother's presents for Luisa and the girls. Mayo followed us: his fidelity was superior to all chastisement, in spite of some bad experiences he had had in this kind of expeditions, unworthy of his years.

      After the river bridge, we met José and his nephew Braulio, who had already come to look for me. Braulio told me about his hunting project, which had been reduced to striking an accurate blow at a tiger famous in the vicinity, which had killed some lambs. He had tracked the animal and discovered one of its dens at the source of the river, more than half a league above the possession.

      Juan Angel stopped sweating when he heard these details, and placing the basket he was carrying on the leaf litter, he looked at us with such eyes as if he were listening to us discuss a murder project.

      Joseph went on to talk about his plan of attack in this way:

      –I answer with my ears that he is not leaving us. We'll see if the Vallonian Lucas is as much of a check as he says he is. From Tiburcio I do answer, does he bring the big ammunition?

      –Yes," I replied, "and the long gun.

      To-day is Braulio's day. He is very anxious to see you make a play, for I have told him that you and I call shots wrong when we aim at a bear's forehead and the bullet goes through one eye.

      He laughed loudly, patting his nephew on the shoulder.

      –Well, let's go," he continued, "but let the little black man take these vegetables to the lady, because I'm going back," and he threw Juan Ángel's basket on his back, saying, "are they sweet things that the girl María puts out for her cousin?

      –Here is something my mother sent to Luisa.

      –But what has the child got into her? I saw her yesterday evening, as fresh and pretty as ever. She looks like a rosebud of Castile.

      –It's good now.

      –And what are you doing there that you don't get out of here, you nigger," said José to Juan Ángel. Carry the guambía and go, so that you'll be back soon, because later on it won't be good for you to be alone around here. There's no need to say anything down there.

      –Be careful not to come back! -I shouted at him when he was on the other side of the river.

      Juan Ángel disappeared into the reeds like a frightened guatín.

      Braulio was a young boy of my age. Two months ago he had come from the province to accompany his uncle, and he had been madly in love, for a long time, with his cousin Tránsito.

      The physiognomy of the nephew had all the nobility that made the old man's interesting; but the most remarkable thing about it was a pretty mouth, without yet a goatee, whose feminine smile contrasted with the manly energy of the other features. Meek of character, handsome, and indefatigable in his work, he was a treasure to José, and the most suitable husband for Tránsito.

      Madame Louise and the girls came out to greet me at the door of the hut, laughing and affectionate. Our frequent dealings over the past few months had made the girls less shy with me. Joseph himself on our hunts, that is, on the battlefield, exercised a paternal authority over me, all of which disappeared

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