"
"That is not kind. I may not spin, but I toil--I leave it to Dade if I
don't." This last, because he caught sight of Dade coming across from
the row of huts, which was a short cut up from the corrals. "And I can
show you the remains of blisters--" He held out a very nice appearing
palm towards her, and looked his fill at her pretty face, while she
bent her brows and inspected the hand with the gravity that threatened
to break at any instant into laughter.
That sickening grip in the chest which is a real, physical pain,
though the hurt be given to the soul of a man, slowed Dade's steps to
a lagging advance towards the tableau the two made on the steps. So
had the senorita sent him dizzy with desire (and with hope to brighten
it) in the two weeks and more that he had been the honored guest. So
had she laughed and teased him and mocked him; and he had believed
that to him alone would she show the sweet whimsies of her nature. But
from the moment when he laid her gold thimble in her waiting hand and
got no reward save an absent little nod of thanks, the dull ache had
been growing in his heart. He knew what it was that had sent Jose off
in that headlong rage against all gringos; though two days before
he would have said that Jose's jealousy was for him, and with good
reason. There had been glances between those two who stood now so
close together--swift measuring of the weapons which sex uses against
sex, with quick smiles when the glances chanced to meet.
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