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Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson
page 44 of 538 (08%)

"Was my mother dead?" continued the child.

Too late the Senora saw her mistake. "I do not know," she replied;
which was literally true, but had the spirit of a lie in it. "I never
saw your mother."

"Did the Senora Ortegna ever see her?" persisted Ramona.

"No, never," answered the Senora, coldly, the old wounds burning
at the innocent child's unconscious touch.

Ramona felt the chill, and was silent for a time, her face sad, and
her eyes tearful. At last she said, "I wish I knew if my mother was
dead."

"Why?" asked the Senora.

"Because if she is not dead I would ask her why she did not want
me to stay with her."

The gentle piteousness of this reply smote the Senora's conscience.
Taking the child in her arms, she said, "Who has been talking to
you of these things, Ramona?"

"Juan Can," she replied.

"What did he say?" asked the Senora, with a look in her eye which
boded no good to Juan Canito.

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