"And we hear that bookings are most difficult to get," Bertie told her. "There is a perfect scramble for them, and they are not all old women who are after them."
Lillian made no answer, but walked on ahead. "The post has come," she said over her shoulder. "I am going in to see what is in it."
She came back presently, finding Anita busy giving the boys their tea. "Your mother says she has a letter with important news in it," she told Anita. "I believe it is from Spain."
Leaving Lillian to look after the tea, Anita ran into the house to find her mother absorbed in her letters. "Listen to this, Anita," she said. "No, I will simply tell you. Pilar is dead."
"That Pilar? Well, I am afraid that doesn't grieve me very deeply."
"It is Prudencia who writes," Mrs. Beltrán went on, "and she tells me a strange thing. Your Uncle Marcos left no children, you remember."
"All his property went to his wife, I remember they told us."
"Yes, but she had use of it only for life. At her death it was to go to Prudencia's daughter and your father's son."
"Oh, mother! To Pepé?"
"To Pepé."