Part 12 (1/2)
”I know,” Nan was genuinely sympathetic, ”but don't you worry, we probably won't see her at all. Mexico, after all, is a pretty big place.”
”Yes, it has twenty-seven states, besides the Federal District and the Territory of Lower California.” Laura quoted the guidebook glibly.
”Doesn't make any difference,” Bess said firmly. ”If she's anywhere in the country, there's no escaping her. We'll meet her.” She ended positively.
How truly Bess spoke, the crowd was soon to find out, but the circ.u.mstances and the far-reaching results must be left to other chapters.
CHAPTER XIII
NAN TURNS PHOTOGRAPHER
”Well, what's on the program this morning?” Adair MacKenzie was in a genial mood the day after the telegram had informed the girls that Rhoda's mother was going to recover.
He had had a good night's sleep and a generous well-cooked breakfast in the fas.h.i.+onable hotel where he had chosen to take his brood. Though he had complained about the coffee in no uncertain terms, as is the custom of most Americans traveling in foreign countries, the rest of the food had seemed good and now he acted as though he was entirely at the disposal of his guests.
”What do you say, Jamieson?” He turned to the young newspaper man. ”Got any ideas?”
”Only those that we talked over at Wells Fargo's yesterday.” Walker Jamieson a.s.sumed a mysterious air.
”Oh, that, that has to wait until the afternoon,” Adair MacKenzie looked mysterious too.
”Then we might just explore the city, take the buses and street cars and find out how the natives get around. We might let the girls get a glimpse of The Cathedral, one of the most important in all of the Americas. It was built over the old Aztec Templo Mayor and it took two and a half centuries to build.”
”Two and a half centuries to build a church!” Laura exclaimed.
”What can you expect?” Adair MacKenzie asked in a tone that indicated he was not the least bit surprised, ”of a nation that has 'manana' for its motto?”
Walker Jamieson laughed heartily at this. ”Well, maybe you are right,”
he admitted, ”but I don't think you'll find your interpretation in any guidebook. They say merely that the Indians contributed a third of the cost and all the work and that 'many died each day due to the long hours of unaccustomed strenuous work.'”
”That's right, they'll never admit they are wrong,” Adair shook his head as though this fact grieved him deeply. ”Never be afraid, you Nan,”
he pointed his finger sternly at his young cousin, ”to admit you are wrong. Best medicine in the world. If you are wrong say so. It's good for you.” Adair MacKenzie had a habit of talking thus in circles, agreeing with himself over some great truth. Now he nodded his head with great satisfaction as though he himself made a practice of admitting his mistakes.
Walker looked at Alice. Alice looked at Walker. They both laughed. Both knew that the old man had never in his life admitted that he had made a mistake. Both at this moment thought him charming and lovable.
”Well, shall we leave The Cathedral out then?” Walker Jamieson was always willing to give in in little particulars. ”There's plenty else to see, palaces, parks, markets. Why, there's a whole new city to explore.”
”Won't leave anything out,” Adair MacKenzie looked at his watch as he spoke, ”but we've got to do everything up in a hurry. Haven't got much time to stay in this city. Got a telegram this morning from the caretaker at the Hacienda. Expects us there within the next couple of days.”
”Oh, daddy,” Alice laughed. ”That's the way you always are. Always wanting to move on just as soon as we arrive at a place.”
”And you,” he twitted, ”manana is always good enough for you. You're just a lazy beggar. Now, what do you want to do today.”
”Oh, everything, just everything,” Alice looked as though she would like to do it all and do it now. She had that happy faculty that some people have of always having a good time no matter what happens.
Nan had it too. The word ”bore” which slips so easily from the tongues of many young people who really shouldn't know what boredom is, had never crossed her lips. Life seemed too full of adventure, too full of a number of things to do for her to even think of applying it to herself.