Again he looked at her doubtingly. “Always, said you?”
“Always.”
“Is he a priest?”
She smiled, and asked, “Does not Quetzal’ know his own servant?”
“Has he company?”
He quit eating, and, much puzzled by the answer, reflected.
“Birds, birds! Am I so near daylight and freedom? Grant it, O Blessed Mother!” And he crossed himself devoutly.
Then Tecetl said, earnestly, “Now that you have eaten, good Quetzal’, come and let us go to my father.”
Orteguilla made up his mind speedily: he could not do worse than go back the way he came; and the light here was so beautiful, and the darkness there so terrible: and here was company. Just then, also, as a further inducement, he heard the whistle of a bird, and fancied he distinguished the smell of flowers.