I’m dreaming of thee;
If I am waking, thee only I see.”
The voice came nearer and nearer, and children’s voices began to join in the singing, and soon Tonio and Tita could see dark forms moving in the moonlight. There was one tall figure, and swarming around it there were ever so many short ones.
“It’s José with his guitar!” cried the [p 47] Twins, and they flew out to meet him. Doña Teresa and Pancho came too.
“God give you good evening,” they all cried out to each other when they met; and then José said, “Have you plenty of sweet potatoes, Doña Teresa? We have come with our dishes and our pennies.”
“Yes,” laughed Doña Teresa. “I thought you might come to-night and I knew your sweet tooth, José! And all these little ones, have they each got a sweet tooth too?”
“Oh yes, Doña Teresa, please cook us some sweet potatoes, won’t you?” the children begged. They held up their empty dishes.
“Well, then, come in, all of you,” said Doña Teresa, “and I will see what I can do.”
She hurried back to the cabin. Pancho went with her, and José and the Twins and all the other children came trooping after them and swarmed around the cabin door.
Pancho made a little brasero right in the middle of the open space beside the fig tree. He made it of stones, and built a fire in it. [p 48] While he was doing that, Doña Teresa got her sweet potatoes ready to cook, and when she came out with the cooking-dish and a jug of syrup in her hands, the children set up a shout of joy.