distinguish the great from the
little," he answered loftily. "WE know a thousand things, but they are
things that any man with a forehead can learn. The knowledge that comes
from the blue is not like that--it is more important and miraculous. Is
it not so, senor?" he ended, appealing to me.

"Is it, then, left for me to decide?" said I, addressing the girl.

But though her face was towards me, she refused to meet my look and was
silent. Silent, but not satisfied: she doubted still, and had perhaps
caught something in my tone that strengthened her doubt.

Old Nuflo understood the expression. "Look at me, Rima," he said,
drawing himself up. "I am old, and he is young--do I not know best? I
have spoken and have decided it."

Still that unconvinced expression, and her face turned expectant to me.

"Am I to decide?" I repeated.

"Who, then?" she said at last, her voice scarcely more than a murmur;
yet there was reproach in the tone, as if she had made a long speech and
I had tyrannously driven her to it.

"Thus, then, I decide," said I. "To each of us, as to every kind of
animal, even to small birds and insects, and to every kind of plant,
there is given something peculiar--a fragrance, a melody, a special
instinct, an art, a knowledge, which no other has. And to Rima has been
given this quickness of mind and power to divine distant things; it is
hers, just as swiftness and grace and changeful, brilliant colour are
the hummingbird's; therefore she need not that anyone dwelling in the
blue should instruct her."

The old man frowned and shook his head; while she, after one swift, shy
glance at my face, and with something like a smile flitting over her
delicate lips, turned and re-entered the house.

I felt convinced from that parting look that she had understood me, that
my words had in some sort given her relief; for, strong as was her faith
in the supernatural, she appeared as ready to escape from it, when a way
of escape offered, as from the limp cotton gown and constrained manner
worn in the house. The religion and cotton dress were evidently remains
of her early training at the settlement of Voa.

Old Nuflo, strange to say, had proved better than his word. Instead of
inventing new causes for delay, as I had imagined would be the case,
he now informed me that his preparations for the journey were all but
complete, that he had only waited for my return to set out.

Rima soon left us in her customary way, and the