She was glad to see her handsome host again
after her brisk ride.
"Good morning, Lucia," Gilbert said, hardly daring to look at her.
Uncle Henry didn't mean to be overlooked. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Pell," he
said, meaningly.
"Why, it _is_ afternoon, isn't it?" she laughed.
"It's darn near night," Uncle Henry rasped.
"And I'm simply famished. Who wouldn't be, after such a glorious ride!"
Lucia said.
"The cook's getting dinner now. Have a good canter, you say?" young Jones
inquired.
"I missed you," Lucia answered, unashamed.
Uncle Henry looked disgusted.
"I'm sorry, I had a lot of things to attend to. I'm glad you're back, for I
was beginning to be worried about you, Lucia. Bandits! They're around
again."
Lucia didn't take him seriously. She hardly remembered that they were so
close to the border of Mexico. "Bandits?" she scoffed. "Oh, but they just
steal cows and things, don't they?"
"Worse than that." Gilbert was serious, and gave her an appraising glance.
"Human life means little in Mexico. They even kill their prisoners in cold
blood."
But still Lucia was not alarmed. "If that's true," she smiled, "I won't go
without you, if you wish it that way.
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