"And why not?" interrupted the other boy. "We are not ashamed of it, Ramona nor I. Our mother is a good woman. Our father was the son of my grandmother."
"Naturally," said Ramona, and they all laughed, at the expense of Alejandro.
"I am not sure that I would have told you," said Alejandro, "only I knew that you did not despise the poor Indians as some do——"
"Despise them!" exclaimed Nellie. "We like them, and we love Francisco."
Ramona gave the child's hand an affectionate little squeeze. Nellie looked up at her and said:
"You are so sweet. I wish we had known you all summer. And your hair is so lovely." Ramona was wearing it in one long, heavy braid. Nothing could have been more simple or becoming.
"We will be friends, then," she rejoined, playfully. "We have so few. My grandmother does not know the Americans well, but the Gordons she likes a great deal. And now that they are coming home and are your friends, we shall be all friends together."
"That will be nice," said Nellie. "I hope mamma will let me come and stay with you sometimes——"
"I don't call that nice," remarked Walter, "inviting yourself to a visit when you are hardly acquainted."
"Don't tease her," said Ramona. "She means well, and she shall come and stay with me."