"Andres and Roseta are away," he said. "Andres said that he would bring her if he could find her."
Agueda had heard of El Rey, but she had never seen the child before.
"I should think he would surely bring her," said she in a comforting tone. She was seeing much misery to-day. She felt reproached for being so happy herself, but she looked forward to her home-coming as recompense for it all.
"Would you like to come to San Isidro some time, El Rey?" she asked.
"Does Roseta ever come there?" asked the child.
"She has never been yet, but she may come some day," answered Agueda, with that merciful deceit which keeps hope ever springing in the breast.
"Have you anything to play with, El Rey?" she asked.
"El Rey has buttons. El Rey has a book that the Señor at Palmacristi gave him, but he is tired of those. When will Roseta come?"
"Would you like to ride the pretty little horse, El Rey?"
The child walked slowly to the door and peered wistfully out.
"El Rey would like to ride; but Roseta might come."
"We will not go far," said Agueda. "Come, let me lift you up." El Rey suffered himself to be lifted to the horse's back, but his eyes were ever searching the dim vista of the woodland for the form that did not appear.
"I cannot enjoy it, Señora," said he, politely. "El Rey would enjoy the Señora's kindness if Roseta could see him ride."
"I must go, Aneta," said Agueda, her eyes moist.
She lifted the child down from Castaño's back. He at once entered the casa. He turned in the doorway, his thin little figure occupying small space against the dark background.
"Adios, Señoritas," said the child. "Oh! will the Señoritas please put the key on the window ledge?"
"We cannot lock you in, El Rey," said Agueda.
"Do you mean that we are to lock you in, El Rey?" asked Aneta at the same time.
"Will the Señoritas please not talk," said the child. "I cannot hear. I sit and listen all day. If the Señoritas talk I cannot hear if any one comes."
"But must we lock the door?" asked Agueda.
"Is that what Andres wishes?" asked Aneta.
"If you please, Señorita; put the key on the window ledge."
"I shall not lock him in," said Aneta. "I cannot do it. I will stay a while, El Rey," she said.
Aneta sat down in the doorway, her head upon her hand. She belongs not to the detail of this story. She is only one of that majority of suffering ignorant beings with whom the world is filled, who make the dark background against which happier souls shine out. Agueda rode back to the ford. She galloped Castaño now. At the entrance of the forest she turned and threw a kiss to Aneta. The girl was still in the doorway, but El Rey was not to be seen. Agueda fancied him sitting on the low bed, his ear strained to catch the fall of a faraway footstep.