The workmen dress up and parade a best girl on
their arm. The Indians are sovery rarely unkind to children. Kate accepted, and said
she would prefer to walk out.
They are well; that is, the younger isvery
delicate.
Kate knew at once that Doña Carlota loved him, but
with a love thatwas now nearly all WILL.
A bluff of yellow rock came jutting at the road.
And she talked andlaughed with the girls. She would have no use for a Niña of whom
shewas not a bit afraid. What does he THINK hewants to do, anyhow?
But I think a woman might bewonderful for him. For
animals arecomplete in their isolation and their insouciance.
Kate sat in absolute dismay, waiting for the other
woman to recoverherself.
At the same time there was a true pathos about
them.
Or theysat in the lake with long hair streaming,
pouring water overthemselves: again like birds. The women carry with a band round
the breast. In the shallows ofthe lake itself two women sat bathing, their black
hair hangingdense and wet.
Then she glanced quickly,involuntarily at her
husband, as she added: I dont know.
A man in the shade wassawing poles, and two men in
the sun were unloading tiles from adonkey.
She felt cold against these hysterics, and exerted
allher heavy female will to stop them.
Again, they were so generous with her, so good
andgentle, she felt they were wonderful.
A little breeze was coming from the lake, but the
deep dustunderfoot was hot. Her own final conclusion aboutmen was that THEY were the
vanity of vanities, nothing but vanity.
There are three spare bedrooms, said Kate. And I
shall never, never love another man.
The dark races belong to abygone cycle of
humanity.
They would manage with the one serape of
Julios.
As if it were, like the charales swimming,just a
natural part of the lake life.
But it pleased Juana that she had been able to make
Kates eyesblaze with anger. Perhaps thewhite man has finally betrayed his own
leadership.
A mozo came with a note from Don Ramón: might he
bring his wife tocall on Kate?
The quiet, unobtrusive, but by no means
down-trodden women of thepeon class.
Kate accepted, and said she would prefer to walk
out. You went to see your boys in the United States? And the men seemednot to care
very profoundly.
Yet she was to sleep out on the ground like a
dog,with her young husband.