She made a movement of her hand, indicating what seemed to Derrick sublime indifference.
"It shall be as you say," she said. "You have been working very hard, is it not? Oh, I have seen you coming from the shed; you looked tired and so——Is it necessary, señor, to get so dirty?"
"'Fraid it is," said Derrick, with a laugh; "the worst of it is, the machinery is even dirtier than I am. 'Pon my word, I don't believe it's had a good over-haul for years."
"Possibly," said Donna Elvira, absently. "The last man who had charge of it was too fond of the wine."
"I can believe it," said Derrick; "anyway, he kept his machinery thirsty enough. What shall I do about it?"
She pondered for a moment or two; then, with a sudden raising of her sad eyes, she said, slowly,
"It must come from England, you said. It is possible to order it from thence?"
"Oh, yes," said Derrick, hesitatingly. "Of course, it would be better if one could buy it on the spot."
"That is so," she agreed. There was silence for awhile, then she said slowly, "Are you content to remain here—Mr. Dene?"
It was the first time she had addressed him by his name, and she did so with an hesitation that Derrick attributed to her uncertainty of the pronunciation.