"Dear, dear, I must see this teacher of yours again, for I am beginning to get jealous," returned Mr. Pinckney; "I can't sing songs to the accompaniment of a guitar, and the first thing I know I shall see you all running off and leaving me while you crowd around this new teacher. I think I shall have to try to pick the banjo and learn some coon songs to keep you with me."
The picture of Mr. Pinckney singing coon songs to a banjo was enough to evoke shouts of laughter, and they all proceeded toward the veranda in high spirits, Jack hanging on one arm of her friend and Mary Lee having gained possession of the other. "Don't you think the señorita is beautiful?" asked the latter. "Her hair is brown, dark brown with reddy gold streaks through it that make it look much lighter."
"As if you had poured light taffy on black and hadn't mixed it up much," volunteered Jack.
Mr. Pinckney laughed. "A romantic comparison, kid."
"I should say it was like brown silk shot with gold," remarked Nan.
"That is better," said Mr. Pinckney.
They had arrived at the veranda now, where the three ladies were sitting, Miss Helen with a Spanish book in her hand, Mrs. Corner with a piece of sewing, and the señorita employed in doing a square of Mexican drawn work which she did beautifully, and which she called callado. Mary Lee was very anxious to learn how to imitate some of the beautiful things her teacher did. She had already begun a simple piece of work which she now took up that she might have the excuse of sitting next her beloved Miss Dolores and getting directions from her. Mr. Pinckney was established in a comfortable chair in the midst of the group. Nan rushed off to make some lemonade, Jean went to find the paisano, and Jack perched herself upon the arm of their visitor's chair that she might make whispered remarks from time to time.
In the midst of the merry-making the señorita's laugh was heard as some funny speech was made. At the first sound of it, Mr. Pinckney turned suddenly and looked at her with a puzzled expression, and every little while he regarded her with the same look. "Miss Garcia's face is not familiar, but surely I have heard that laugh often before. I cannot place it, but it seems strangely familiar," he said to Miss Helen.
"Such resemblances are very puzzling," returned Miss Helen, "but I don't think they always mean anything."
"Where did you find such a rara avis as the young lady seems to be?"