“I can sleep out of doors, well enough, but he can’t. Besides, he is saddle-worn and can ride no further at present. What shall I do?”
“I was never good at riddles, no. My head, it is quite stupid, yes.”
“But you are a woman. You should be merciful, and Refugio means ‘succor.’ Remember, please, he is old and he—knew your mistress.”
She turned upon him sharply:
“But I remember, also, that he has come to bring sorrow to her innocent little ones, yes.”
“No! I tell you truly that you are wholly mistaken. Our errand is one of kindness, only. Provide us shelter for to-night and to-morrow I—”
She interrupted him by rising and saying:
“One may do what one will with one’s own, is it not? It is the House of Refuge. Bring the father. He is, indeed, too old for such a task as his; but there is still time. He may repent and depart before harm is done. I repeat, it is the House of Refuge, and the sin of turning any beggar from its doors shall lie neither on the head of my beloved master nor on that of Marta Cardanza. There are rooms of my own, yes. In them—‘the house is yours.’”
CHAPTER V
A LITTLE EXCURSION
“Basta, enough! If some go supperless to bed this night it shall not be the little ones! Vamos, Amador!” cried Anita, as she struggled to keep both her difficult seat and the contents of the jar.