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confidence and invited me to join him at his dinner of roast meat。
I was hungry by this time and not sorry to get animal food once more； nevertheless； I ate this meat with some disgust； as it had a rank taste and smell； and it was also unpleasant to have those evil…looking dogs savagely gnawing at the animal's head and feet at the same time。
〃You see；〃 said the old hypocrite； wiping the grease from his moustache； 〃this is what I am compelled to do in order to avoid giving offence。 My granddaughter is a strange being； sir； as you have perhaps observed〃
〃That reminds me；〃 I interrupted； 〃that I wish you to relate her history to me。 She is； as you say； strange； and has speech and faculties unlike ours； which shows that she comes of a different race。〃
〃No； no； her faculties are not different from ours。 They are sharper； that is all。 It pleases the All…Powerful to give more to some than to others。 Not all the fingers on the hand are alike。 You will find a man who will take up a guitar and make it speak； while I〃
〃All that I understand；〃 I broke in again。 〃But her origin； her historythat is what I wish to hear。〃
〃And that； sir； is precisely what I am about to relate。 Poor child； she was left on my hands by her sainted mothermy daughter； sirwho perished young。 Now； her birthplace； where she was taught letters and the Catechism by the priest； was in an unhealthy situation。 It was hot and wetalways weta place suited to frogs rather than to human beings。 At length； thinking that it would suit the child betterfor she was pale and weaklyto live in a drier atmosphere among mountains； I brought her to this district。 For this； senor； and for all I have done for her； I look for no reward here； but to that place where my daughter has got her foot； not； sir； on the threshold； as you might think； but well inside。 For； after all； it is to the authorities above； in spite of some blots which we see in their administration； that we must look for justice。 Frankly； sir； this is the whole story of my granddaughter's origin。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 I returned； 〃your story explains why she can call a wild bird to her hand； and touch a venomous serpent with her bare foot and receive no harm。〃
〃Doubtless you are right；〃 said the old dissembler。 〃Living alone in the wood； she had only God's creatures to play and make friends with； and wild animals； I have heard it said； know those who are friendly towards them。〃
〃You treat her friends badly；〃 said I； kicking the long tail of the coatimundi away with my foot； and regretting that I had joined in his repast。
〃Senor； you must consider that we are only what Heaven made us。 When all this was formed；〃 he continued； opening his arms wide to indicate the entire creation； 〃the Person who concerned Himself with this matter gave seeds and fruitless and nectar of flowers for the sustentation of His small birds。 But we have not their delicate appetites。 The more robust stomach which he gave to man cries out for meat。 Do you understand？ But of all this； friend； not one word to Rima！〃
I laughed scornfully。 〃Do you think me such a child； old man； as to believe that Rima； that little sprite； does not know that you are an eater of flesh？ Rima； who is everywhere in the wood； seeing all things； even if I lift my hand against a serpent； she herself unseen。〃
〃But； sir； if you will pardon my presumption； you are saying too much。 She does not come here； and therefore cannot see that I eat meat。 In all that wood where she flourishes and sings； where she is in her house and garden； and mistress of the creatures； even of the small butterfly with painted wings； there； sir； I hunt no animal。 Nor will my dogs chase any animal there。 That is what I meant when I said that if an animal should stumble against their legs； they would lift up their noses and pass on without seeing it。 For in that wood there is one law； the law that Rima imposes； and outside of it a different law。〃
〃I am glad that you have told me this；〃 I replied。 〃The thought that Rima might be near； and； unseen herself； look in upon us feeding with the dogs and； like dogs； on flesh； was one which greatly troubled my mind。〃
He glanced at me in his usual quick； cunning way。
〃Ah； senor； you have that feeling tooafter so short a time with us！ Consider； then； what it must be for me； unable to nourish myself on gums and fruitlets； and that little sweetness made by wasps out of flowers； when I am compelled to go far away and eat secretly to avoid giving offence。〃
It was hard； no doubt； but I did not pity him； secretly I could only feel anger against him for refusing to enlighten me； while making such a presence of openness； and I also felt disgusted with myself for having joined him in his rank repast。 But dissimulation was necessary； and so； after conversing a little more on indifferent topics； and thanking him for his hospitality； I left him alone to go on with his smoky task。
On my way back to the lodge； fearing that some taint of Nuflo's evil…smelling den and dinner might still cling to me； I turned aside to where a streamlet in the wood widened and formed a deep pool； to take a plunge in the water。 After drying myself in the air； and thoroughly ventilating my garments by shaking and beating them； I found an open； shady spot in the wood and threw myself on the grass to wait for evening before returning to the house。 By that time the sweet； warm air would have purified me。 Besides； I did not consider that I had sufficiently punished Rima for her treatment of me。 She would be anxious for my safety； perhaps even looking for me everywhere in the wood。 It was not much to make her suffer one day after she had made me miserable for three； and perhaps when she discovered that I could exist without her society she would begin to treat me less capriciously。
So ran my thoughts as I rested on the warm ground； gazing up into the foliage； green as young grass in the lower； shady parts； and above luminous with the bright sunlight； and full of the murmuring sounds of insect life。 My every action； word； thought； had my feeling for Rima as a motive。 Why； I began to ask myself； was Rima so much to me？ It was easy to answer that question： Because nothing so exquisite had ever been created。 All the separate and fragmentary beauty and melody and graceful motion found scattered throughout nature were concentrated and harmoniously combined in her。 How various； how luminous； how divine she was！ A being for the mind to marvel at； to admire continually； finding some new grace and charm every hour； every moment； to add to the old。 And there was； besides； the fascinating mystery surrounding her origin to arouse and keep my interest in her continually active。
That was the easy answer I returned to the question I had asked myself。 But I knew that there was another answera reason more powerful than the first。 And I could no longer thrust it back； or hide its shining face with the dull； leaden mask of mere intellectual curiosity。 BECAUSE I LOVED HER； loved her as I had never loved before； never could love any other being； with a passion which had caught something of her own brilliance and intensity； making a former passion look d