"We have had the doctor once. He said father may perhaps have the use of his right hand and foot sometime, if he has the best of care."
"Are there any crops on the farm this year? Who could do the work?"
"The apple and fig trees have borne well. We have good crops of maize and melons and gourds, because father had done the early spring planting before his illness came. Joanna and I did the hoeing and took what care we could. The vines are full of grapes. Father had pruned and trimmed them last winter. Joanna and I are gathering the grapes nowadays and beginning to press them. And I sold some to-day."
"Is this your dog, Jose?" Antonio asked. Carlos had burst out again into barking.
"Yes. Inez Castillo, the daughter of Senhor Castillo—you remember our neighbor who lives on the big farm?—gave Carlos to me when he was a puppy, a year ago. He stays with me always when I work and goes with me wherever I go. He barks in such a friendly way at you that I think he must know you belong to the family."
One of the oxen gave a low cry which the other echoed.
Jose picked up the ox-goad and started them forward. "It is time to go on; the night work must be done."
Antonio lifted his hand-bag into the cart. "Who does that work?" he asked.
"I do. Sometimes Joanna helps. You will help now? You have come to stay at home?" Jose's voice was very wistful.
"I shall stay a while to help. We will not talk about this before the others."