with an air of offended dignity. "Elena Castro,
who lives on the other side, is but eighteen and she
has three little ones. The Virgin brought them in
the night and left them in the big rosebush you see
before the door--one at a time, of course. Only
the old nurse knew; the Virgin whispered it while
she was saying a prayer for Elena; and early in the
morning she came and found the dear little baby
and put it in Elena's arms. I am the godmother of
the first--Conchitita. In Santa Barbara, where we
lived for some years, Anita Amanda Carillo, the
friend of Ana Paula, is married, although she is
but twelve and sits on the floor all day and plays
with her dolls. She prays every night to the Virgin
to bring her a real baby, but she is not old enough
to take care of it and must wait. Twelve is too
young to marry." Concha shook her head. Her
eyes were wise, and Rezanov noted anew that her
mouth alone was as young as her years. "My father
would not permit such a thing. I am glad he is not
anxious we should marry soon. I should love to
have the babies, though; they are so sweet to play
with and make little dresses for. But my mother
says the Virgin does not bring the little ones to
good girls--poor Rosa had one but it died--until
their parents find them a husband first. I have
never wanted a husband--" Concha darted a
swift glance over her shoulder, but Santiago was in
the clutches of the learned doctor and wishing that
he knew no Latin; "so I go every day and play with