ng, stood about the tipple awaiting the result of
their masters' interviews with the mine boss, concerning work and the
occupancy of any "shack" that might still be empty.

Now, too, the bell of the red-brick school clamored loudly of mornings;
and dark, taciturn Mexican children, and paler, noisier children from
the mining end of town, bubbled out of every door. Seven Vigils obeyed
the daily summons, clad, boy and girl, in cotton stuff of precisely the
hue of their skin. Bobbing through the gate, one after another, they
were like a family of little dun-colored prairie-dogs, of a hue with
their adobe dwelling, shy and brown and bright-eyed.

Among them Lola had an effect of tropical brilliancy, by reason of the
red frock with which Jane had provided her. There were red ribbons also
in Lola's braided hair; and the girl, although still aware of bitter
wrongs, was sensible of being pleased with her raiment. More than once
on her way to school that first day she looked at the breadths of her
scarlet cashmere with a gratified eye; and catching her at this, Ana
Vigil had sighed disapprovingly, saying, "It is too good for every
day--that dress."

"It isn't too good for me!" flashed back Lola. "My father can do what
he likes!"

"True," said Ana, "since he has a gold-mine. But even if I were rich, I
should fear that the saints might punish me for wearing to school my
best clothes. I would wish to win their good-will by wearing no
finery," said Ana, piously. She was a plump girl, with eyes like
splinters of coal in her suave brown face; despite the extreme
softness of her voice, these glittering splinters rested with no gentle
ray on Lola.

Indeed, Jane's pride in having her charge well-dressed operated largely
against the girl's popularity with others of her mates than Ana.
Primarily Lola's air of hauteur provoked resentment; but hauteur in
poor attire would have been only amusing, while in red cashmere it was
felt to be a serious matter, entailing upon every one the sense of a
personal affront. Lola's quickness of retort was also against her. The
swift flash of her eye, the sudden quiver of her lip, afforded
continual gratification to such as had it in mind to effect her
discomposure.

"They do not love you too well, Lolita," said Ana Vigil, sadly. "They
say you have a sharp tongue. They say you are too well pleased with
yourself. Me, I tell you what I hear because I am your friend."

"So long a tongue as yours, Ana, w