One day her mother, commenting on
the fact that the patrol and pass system of the insurgents had been
somewhat relaxed, suggested that Desire might go to Pittsfield. But
she said she did not care to go now. The fact was she preferred to
play with her lion, though she did not mention that reason to her
mother. When from time to time she heard of the fear and apprehension
with which the gentlemen's families in town regarded Perez, she even
owned to being a little complacent over the fact that this lawless
dictator was her humble adorer. She finally went so far as
occasionally to ask him as a favor to have this or that done about the
village. It was such fun to feel that through him she could govern the
community. One afternoon, being in a particularly gracious mood, she
took a pink ribbon from her neck, knotted it about the hilt of his
sword as an ornament.
The hillside path among the laurel thickets where they so often
chanced to meet, was a lonely spot, beyond the reach of spectators or
eavesdroppers; but, while their meetings were thus secret, nothing
could be more discreet than the way she managed them. She kept him so
well in hand that he did not even dare to speak of the love of which
his whole manner was eloquent.
Pages:
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361