"I shall never want to learn it," Anita said with conviction. "I certainly am glad that Benilda sent us to some one who speaks pure Spanish."
"That is one reason, the chief one, why she did send us to Doña Carmen. She is an Asturian, though doubtless she speaks this dialect too."
They heard the stout woman's voice trailing along the stairway. "Emilia! Emilia," and presently they heard heels clicking down the stair. A younger woman appeared before them.
"We are looking for a young man called Pepé, or José Beltrán," began Mrs. Beltrán.
The woman looked at her stolidly.
"Can you tell us if a young man by that name lives now in this house or has ever lived here?"
"I have not lived in this house very long," the woman at last replied. "There was one who lately moved away who lived many years here she told me, but I," she shook her head, "No, I do not know such person."
"Where has the woman gone who did live here so long?" asked Mrs. Beltrán.
"I think she moved up the street. Wait, I ask." She clattered out to the street, looked up and down, then called shrilly: "Faquita, Faquita!" A woman standing in a group turned her head, then walked slowly toward her who summoned. After a few moments of rapid conversation Faquita returned with the woman called Emilia. She paused to look the strangers over, but was perfectly silent till addressed.
Mrs. Beltrán repeated her questions.