“Sure, little lady, is it only that deceivin’ Meegell (Miguel) that can wear the handsome contraptions, belike? ’Twas meself an’ Mickey Grady as thought the matther out. A sombrero is it? What then? So have I. Sayrappy? Faith, I warrant here’s one to be proud of. And a burro, says you? Now how’d this purty grayish-whitey be pleasin’ yerself? Eh, me little lady?”
Even yet Carlota did not comprehend what Dennis thought he had made so plain.
“He’s a pretty little creature. Indeed, he is much like one I used to have at home. Carlos had one all beautifully marked with brown and white, but mine was just a mouse-colored dear, as like this one as—as one star is like another. You have made a good choice, I think, Dennis.”
Then was the Irishman’s felicity complete. He slipped from his broncho and bowing low before his “little lady,” offered her the leading strap of the “mouse-colored dear.”
“Then sure, Miss Carlota, ye’ll be doin’ me that proud by acceptin’ this same, as a token o’ friendship, belike. And I’d admire to be seein’ how ye fits on his back.”
“For—me? You have bought that pretty creature for me? Why, Dennis, Dennis!”
“That same is me name, an’ no shame to it; barrin’ ye’ll have none of the beast.”
“But, I’ll have all of him, indeed! Oh! thank you, thank you!”
Her delight and the way in which she clapped her little brown hands nearly turned the brain of the generous Irishman. Hitherto, he had known but hard toil and the rough side of life, but Carlota represented to him something wholly different; and the chivalry which is latent in every manly breast, no matter how humble, roused him to become her champion and protector. Moreover, he was very jealous of the unknown Miguel, of whom both children talked with such sincere affection. To Mike Grady, alone, had Dennis confided his ambition:
“I’ll take the shine off that ‘Greaser’ or I’ll spend the last cent I ever will earn. Mind that, now;” and, after he had arrayed himself in his finery, he had asked: “Do ye think, Mickey boy, that the ‘Greaser’ ’ll look grander nor me, the day?”