CHAPTER XII.
THE RETURN.
On the morning after the Junta Dionysio returned from the large ranch where he had been helping the harvesters. Or, rather, he returned on the evening of that day, but came down to the Pages' camp in the morning.
Margarita, in her pretty red dress and new shoes and stockings, came to meet him, with many childish expressions of joy. He took her in his arms, fondled her cheek against his, and said in Spanish:
"Querida, you love your brother?"
"Si," replied the child. "Dionysio knows it well."
"And you love also the white people who have been so kind to you?"
"Si, very much," was the reply.
"And would you be willing, Querida, to go far away with them to stay?"
"Will you come, too?" asked the child.