"That was very wonderful, that dance, senorita; but does it not tire
you?"
"No."
"You are glad to give such great pleasure, I suppose?"
"Si--"
"You are so used to compliments--I know how the caballeros go on--you
won't mind my saying it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw--and I
have been about the world a bit."
"Si?"
"I wish I could dance, if only to dance with you."
"You no dance?" Her tone expressed polite scorn, although her voice was
scarcely audible.
"Would--would--you talk out a dance with me?"
"Oh no." She looked as astonished as if John had asked her to shut
herself up alone in her room for the rest of the evening, and she swayed
her back slowly upon him and lifted her hand to the shoulder of Enrique.
In another moment she was gliding down the room in his arm, and John
noted that the color in her cheek was deeper.
"It is impossible that she can care for that doll," he thought;
"impossible."
But in the days that followed he realized that the race was to be a hot
one. He was included in all the festivities, and they went to
_meriendas_ among the cotton-woods by the river and in the hills, danced
every night, were entertained by the priests at the Mission, and had
bull-fights, horse-races, and many games of skill.
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