Part 18 (1/2)
”Here, here,” Adair MacKenzie broke the spell. ”Don't go preaching that manana business to these girls. They are lazy enough as it is. Look at them now, will you?”
In truth, the girls did all look comfortable and lazy, entirely at peace with themselves and the world and not at all like the busy energetic beings that they were at school.
”The world doesn't seem real, does it?” Nan looked at Bess as she made this observation.
”No,” Bess answered. ”Not real at all. This, I believe, is the most romantic spot we have ever been in.”
”Yes,” Nan agreed idly, and for some reason or other her thoughts drifted back towards home and school and then to Walter, Grace's brother.
”I've been meaning to tell you,” Grace broke in on her train of thought as though she knew what had been going on in Nan's mind. ”Mother said in that letter I got at Wells Fargo's this morning that she had consented to let Walter go on a motor trip through the West and Mexico with his Spanish teacher.”
”Yes.” Nan's voice betrayed her interest, and she was conscious as she spoke that all the girls were suddenly more alert. The piece of news was one they were interested in too.
”It seems,” Grace went on, pleased that she had the attention of everyone, ”that every year he takes a group down through this district so that they can hear Spanish spoken by the people whose tongue it is.
Walter likes Spanish and so he's going along with them.”
”When will he be here,” Bess asked the question which she knew Nan wanted to ask but wouldn't in face of the interest that everyone was showing in the matter.
”Oh, mother wasn't sure,” Grace answered. ”It all depends on so many things. They'll be gone the whole summer and will linger at the places the boys seem to like the best. It seems that the teacher leaves the itinerary almost entirely up to them.”
”Sounds like fun.” Nan tried to be casual and general as she spoke, but she didn't altogether succeed.
”What's all this about?” Adair MacKenzie had caught the drift of the conversation. ”Who is this Walter anyway?”
”He is Grace's brother,” Nan answered.
”Yes?” Adair was not to be put off so easily.
”And he went with us to Rose Ranch a few summers ago and met us in London with Grace's mother and dad last year.” Nan thought it would be better for her to answer the questions.
”Hm-m-m. Think I understand.” Adair appeared to be devoting much thought to this ”understanding” business for he said nothing further for a while. Finally, as though he suddenly remembered what they had been talking about, he returned to the subject.
”Why can't the young hoodlums--I have no doubt but what they are young hoodlums, all boys are--stop at the hacienda with us for a few days?” he asked.
Grace's face beamed at this. ”Why, how nice!” she exclaimed, ”but just think, there will be five of them at least.”
”What of it?” Adair dismissed this as an objection. ”Got lots of room.
We'll make a party of it when they come and serve them a real Mexican meal.” Adair seemed to have forgotten entirely that he personally despised Mexican cooking. ”Hot tamales, tortillas, everything.” He waved his hand grandly as though the whole world would be at the disposal of the boys for the asking.
”Like boys anyway,” Adair went on. ”Girls are a nuisance. Always fainting. Oh, it doesn't matter,” he glossed over this last part of conversation as he saw the blood mounting to Grace's cheeks. ”Just like to have boys around.” He ended rather weakly. ”Now, let's see. It's getting pretty dark, better move on.” He motioned to Walker who obediently took the paddle in hand and began the leisurely journey back.
CHAPTER XX
GOOD-BY TO MEXICO CITY
”Oh, yesterday was a grand day!” Nan stretched her arms wide and high as she sat up in her bed the next morning.