Illustrations
| PAGE | |
| "Good-day to thyself," retorted the padre | [Frontispiece] |
| He carried a canary at his shoulder | [16] |
| Advancing by soft steps came Tomasso the cat | [38] |
| Fanning her wings in one lightning stroke | [44] |
| Another frown and he passed on | [50] |
[Good-Night]
I
Scarlet fuchsias on a swaying branch freckled the ’dobe wall behind Loretta’s perch. The parrot, her claws wide apart, her brilliant rudder tilting to balance her gray body, industriously snapped at the blossoms. One secured at last, she turned slowly about and, with infinite care, let it drop upon the open pages of Padre Alonzo’s book.
The padre brushed the flower away and glanced up.
“Buenos días, señor!” clacked Loretta; “buenos días! buenos días! buenos días!”