"Neither," said Alejandro. "I am going to stay here and be a rancher. I mean to plant the finest fruits, and put in nuts, and do everything in the best possible way."
"That is so," laughed Ramona. "He is like that. He will be a rancher, as he calls it. And my grandmother will be pleased."
"Say, Alejandro," said Walter, who had been attentively regarding the boy; "you won't be mad if I tell you something, will you?"
The brother and sister looked at each other and smiled.
"You are going to say I have very dark skin, or something like that," said Alejandro. "So many people do who do not know us."
"No, not that," replied Walter. "But it was this—you look so much like Francisco, an Indian boy we liked so much at the Hot Springs, only you are not so dark."
"Francisco Perez?" asked Alejandro. "So I ought—he is my cousin."
"Your cousin!" exclaimed Walter and Nellie.
"Yes, he is our cousin," repeated Alejandro, stoutly. "He and Mauricio—and Cecilio—and many others at Warner's. Our mother is an Indian."
"Oh, I am sorry," said Walter, fearing he had made a mistake. "I would not have said anything——"