her hips and swayed back and forth as she talked. It was a
little trait she had inherited from her mother, and one of her most
characteristic poses.

"How well you look to-day!" Maria said, smiling. "I have been wishing
you would come, we are so busy--see, here come a group of soldiers all
together. Will you help me?" She held out a dipper with a long
handle, which Lucia accepted critically.

"I don't like charging full price for this milk which is more like
water," she said.

"Nonsense, child, it is business, the soldiers know no difference; it
is only your silly pride," her aunt scolded. She was a little in awe
of her determined niece, and very often she was provoked at her.

"If you can't bring us more milk, we must do the best we can," she said
meaningly. "You used to bring us twice this much."

Lucia shrugged her shoulders and tossed her head. "I can bring no more
than I bring," she said, and turned her attention to the soldiers
before her.

But the explanation did not satisfy her thrifty aunt. She was no
authority on goats, but she had enough sense to know that the supply of
milk does not dwindle to one-half the usual quantity over night. Still
she did not voice her suspicions.

Lucia and Maria were busy for the rest of the afternoon. Lucia's
flowered dress and brilliantly-colored bandana that she wore tied over
her head, were added attractions to Senora Rudini's stall, and the
soldiers from the south came and chattered and laughed.

[Illustration: "The soldiers came and chattered and laughed."]

"What a pity we have no more," Maria said as the last crock was
emptied, and they set about preparing to return home. "We could go on
selling all night now that Lucia is here."

"Well, it is high time to go home, I am tired," her mother replied
crossly. "Hurry with what you are doing."

Lucia was busy closing the big umbrella.

"It is late, I will have to hurry, or Beppi will have let all my goats
run away--he and his dreams. He is a lazy little one, but I can't bear
to scold him," she said. "He is too little to understand."

Her aunt nodded. "Let him dream, but if you are not careful, he will
be badly spoiled."

"No fear of that," Lucia replied, "while Nana has a word to say. She
is always for bringing him up properly, but little good it does. Now
we are ready, I will help you carry home your things, if you will let
Maria walk with me to the gate," Lucia bargained.

"Oh, she may I sup