home on his horse. 'Twas long ago. And now you
are grown tall and can play the piano. Shall you go on fretting your
poor head with more schooling, _chiquita_?"

[Illustration: "'DO NOT MAKE THE THREAD SHORT LOLITA!'"]

At this question Lola's mind sharply reverted to the distressing scene
which had by a moment preceded her neighbor's summons. There had been
in Jane's words a broken, yet oddly definite, assertion of impending
poverty. She had spoken of the unlikelihood of another year in Pueblo
for Lola, and the girl for the first time began to realize this fact
with a sinking of the heart. Her voice had a tremor as she said
hesitatingly, "I'm afraid I can't go back to Pueblo this fall."

"Not go back? The Jonas senorita goes back! Why not you? Has thy father
lost money? I am thy friend, Lolita. Tell me!"

"I can't tell what I don't know, senora. I don't know if he has lost
money. _Tia_ only said that--that I mightn't go back to school. She
didn't say why, but she will, no doubt."

Senora Vigil's eyes narrowed. She recalled certain rumors long afloat
in town as to Jane's extravagance, and the inability of her means to
such luxuries as pianos. Also, although half-consciously, the senora's
inner memory dwelt upon that corner of her back yard which it had been
Jane's sad fortune to take away.

The senora was not unkind or vindictive, but she had a mouse-trap sort
of mind which only occasionally was open to the admittance of ideas,
but which snapped fast forever upon such few notions as wandered into
it. Having once accepted the belief that Jane was not averse to snatch
at any good in her way, even if it belonged to another, the senora
found herself still under the sway of this opinion.

"The big house of Mees Combs has cost too much!" she asserted. "Where
has the money come from? From the coal? Some, perhaps, yes; but for all
of the great house, ah, it cannot be! Every one has been saying there
was not enough coal in her tract to pay for what she has done; and new
debts press, doubtless. What could be easier than to take the money of
thy father? I tell you, Lolita, that you cannot go to school because
Mees Combs has had to use your money to pay them! Eh, but your father
will be mad! He is not working himself to a bone that strangers should
build themselves fine houses! My Pablo said a little time ago that
people said your father's riches were going astray. Me, I did not
listen. Now I know he spoke true." The senora's