Part 9 (2/2)
His words elcomed with a shout of applause, and the other men all immediately announced their intention to accoues distant
Some of the men noent out to catch fresh horses, while Alday busied hi out a store of old broadswords and carbines from their conceal excitedly together, occupied the the rusty weapons, while the women cooked a fresh supply of meat for the last comers; and in the meanti peacefully
CHAPTER XIV
The girl I have mentioned, whose name was Monica, and the child, called Anita, were the only persons there besides myself ere not carried away by the warlike enthusiasm of the moment Monica, silent, pale, aluests; while the child, when the shouting and excite to Alday's wife, tre piteously No notice was taken of the poor little thing, and at length she crept away into a corner to conceal herself behind a faggot of wood Her hiding-place was close toI induced her to leave it and co, with a white, thin face and large, dark, pathetic eyes
Her mean little cotton frock only reached to her knees, and her little legs and feet were bare Her age was seven or eight; she was an orphan, and Alday's wife, having no children of her oas bringing her up, or, rather, perrow up under her roof I drew her to et her to talk Little by little she gained confidence, and began to reply to my questions; then I learnt that she was a little shepherdess, although so young, and spentthe flock about on her pony Her pony and the girl Monica, as sos she seereatest affection for
”And when you slip off, how do you get on again?” I asked
”Little pony is taet off, then I cli--talk and play?”
”I talk to o with the sheep”
”Is your doll very pretty, Anita?”
No answer
”Will you let me see your doll, Anita? I know I shall like your doll, because I like you”
She gaveand had notshe left me and crept out of the roo to screen soaze in her scanty little dress It was her wonderful doll--the dear co she allowed me to take it into my hands It was, or consisted of, the forefoot of a sheep, cut off at the knee; on the top of the knee part a little wooden ball wrapped in a white rag represented the head, and it was dressed in a piece of red flannel--a satyr-like doll, with one hairy leg and a cloven foot I praised its pleasing countenance, its pretty gown and dainty little boots; and all I said sounded very precious to Anita, filling her with emotions of the liveliest pleasure
”And do you never play with the dogs and cats and little las and cats When I see a very little lao softly, softly and catch it It tries to get away; then I put er in its mouth, and it sucks, and sucks; then it runs away”
”And what do you like best to eat?”
”Sugar When uncle buys sugar, aunt gives me a lump I make doll eat some, and bite off one small piece and put it in pony's reatof beads, or a little girl to play with?”
This question was rather too lected little brain, which had fed itself with such sied to put it in various ways, and at last, when she understood that only one of the three things could be chosen, she decided in favour of a little girl to play with
Then I asked her if she liked to hear stories; this also puzzled her, and after so I discovered that she had never heard a story, and did not knohat it meant
”Listen, Anita, and I will tell you a story,” I said ”Have you seen the white ht, white ets hot?”
Yes, she often saw the white , she told me
”Then I will tell you a story about the white irl named Alma”