“It won’t be necessary for you to do that. Tell me what you want me to do.”
“Well, a very simple thing. My father, who is not all a gentleman should be, took a little silver jewelcase out of my room the other day. It is a souvenir of mother. I think he must have sold it, and I wish you would take the trouble of looking for it. You’ll find it in some pawn-shop on the plaza. There is a coronet upon the cover of the case, and in the silk lining are the initials, R. S. If you find the little box, please buy it, and I shall pay you whatever it amounts to.”
“No, not that.”
“Oh, I don’t want it under any other condition.”
Apropós of the little box, Rafaela spoke sadly of her mother.
Remedios, who had taken off her mantilla, took a hoop from a corner and began to play with it.
“Remedios!” said Rafaela. “You have your new dress on. Change it, and study your lessons immediately.”
“No, not today,” replied the child.
“Why not? And she says it so calmly! Big girls don’t play with hoops. If I don’t watch this child, she plays all sorts of games, just like a little street urchin. Do you think that is right, girlie?”
Remedios looked at her sister impudently, and only whistled as an answer.