"That is true," said Pilar. "It isn't what you call sour grapes. Papa could be rich if he liked. We have copper on our land, much copper. Men came and told papa that if he chose to work it he might have one of the best copper mines in Spain."
"Not for the world," said Colonel O'Donnel, with a flash of pride in his mild, brown eyes. "I do not come of that sort of people. I am an officer. I am not a miner."
"But," pleaded Dick, bewildered by this new type of man, who refused to open his door and let money, tons of money, roll in, "but you could sell the land and make an enormous profit. You could keep shares, and--"
"I have no wish to sell," replied the Cherub.
"Well, you might let others work the mine for you."
"But I prefer living over it. It's beautiful land. I would not have it made ugly. My ancestors would rise from their graves and cry out against me."
"Still, we are poor," said Pilar. "New brother, pray be careful of Cristóbal's clothes," and she laughed merrily. "It will be a long time before we can afford to buy others."
"And all that copper eating its head off underground," gasped Dick.
"We have cousins who are prouder than we about such things," said Pilar. "Two girls and their mother, who live in Seville. They've a beautiful old house with lovely grounds, but nothing else. How they manage not to starve, the saints know. They've sold their china and jewels--everything but their mantillas--to keep their carriage; and they have to share that with two other families of cousins, each taking it in turn; but they have three doors to the carriage--a door with the family crest of one, a door with the crest of the second, and another with the third; so nobody outside knows. A Scotch company want to buy their house and land for an hotel, and have offered enough money to make them rich for life; but they'd rather die than give up the place. And although one of my cousins can paint beautifully, and could make a great deal by selling pretty sketches of Seville, her mother won't allow it. I do think it's carrying pride too far; but there are lots of people I know who are like that."
"It makes me feel as if I'd came through a week's illness just to hear it all," said Dick. "I can't get over that copper."