"
"Oh, this is wonderful!" I exclaimed; whereat the old man
chuckled again.
"But tell me this, my sweet girl," I continued. "You never
addressed me in Spanish; what strange musical language was it you
spoke to me in?"
She shot a timid glance at my face and looked troubled at the
question, but made no reply.
"Senor," said the old man, "that is a question which you must
excuse my child from answering. Not, sir, from want of will, for
she is docile and obedient, though I say it, but there is no
answer beyond what I can tell you. And this is, sir, that all
creatures, whether man or bird, have the voice that God has given
them; and in some the voice is musical and in others not so."
"Very well, old man," said I to myself; "there let the matter
rest for the present. But if I am destined to live and not die,
I shall not long remain satisfied with your too simple
explanation."
"Rima," I said, "you must be fatigued; it is thoughtless of me to
keep you standing here so long."
Her face brightened a little, and bending down, she replied in a
low voice: "I am not fatigued, sir. Let me get you something to
eat now.
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