The Little Spanish Dancer
Page 7
CHAPTER VI
ANOTHER VISIT TO JUAN
Several days passed before Pilar was able to leave her house and go toJuan's shop--several anxious days. Because that night, her grandfatherhad grown worse, and she had been obliged to call the doctor.
The doctor had been coming every day since then, and Pilar could notleave her grandfather's side. Neighbors had been kind, helping with foodand attentions.
Now that her grandfather was better, Pilar realized that she must repaythose good neighbors. So this morning, as soon as the burning Spanishsun arose, Pilar arose, too.
She prepared her grandfather's breakfast and made him comfortablein his bed. Then she drank her thick, sweet chocolate, and off she wentto Juan's shop, taking along the old wooden chest.
Juan could not help smiling when he saw her enter, weighed down by herhuge burden. It looked to Juan as if the big chest should really havebeen carrying the little girl.
"Good morning, Senorita Pilar," he laughed. "And where is the chesttaking you today?"
Pilar did not smile. Resting the chest upon the counter, she said,"Grandfather has been very ill since last I saw you, Senor Juan."
"Ah, I am sorry, child," said Juan.
"But now he is much better," added Pilar more cheerfully, "And I havebrought you what I promised."
"The castanets?" asked Juan, looking at her shrewdly.
"More than the castanets, Senor Juan," answered the little girl. "Forthey alone will not pay you for all the money I now need."
She started to open the chest, and Juan started to shake his head. ButPilar caught his arm, and her large, dark eyes pleaded pitifully.
"Oh, take them, please, Senor Juan!" she cried. "For I need a great dealof money! The doctor says that Grandfather will not be able to work fora long time."
She pulled out of the chest the Damascene knife from Toledo, the tallcomb from Barcelona, the faded fan from Valladolid, the ancient clockfrom El Escorial, and the saucy bonnet from Segovia.
"Here, take them, please, senor," she said. "And also--" She put herhand inside the chest and drew out the magic castanets. "These, too,"she whispered, "for I promised."
POTTERY SHOP, TRIANA]
Juan looked at the old wooden clappers. Then he looked at Pilar. Andquite abruptly he turned around to the strong box where he kept hismoney. He unlocked it and took out some paper bills.
"Here, little Pilar," he said. "Here is the money for you and yourgrandfather. I shall keep the knife and the clock and the fan, the comb,and the bonnet. But--" He pushed away her hand which held the castanets."Keep those, since you love them so much."
Pilar clasped the castanets to her heart and her face lit up like athousand candles.
"Oh, Senor Juan!" she sighed. "You are so good!"
Juan patted her shoulder.
"It is all right, my child," he said. "And if, later on, you are in needof more money, bring me the castanets. I can sell them to a dancingmaster who would like to buy them. He is very fond of such antiques."
Pilar did not answer right away. Then she said in a sober voice, "BeforeI give up the castanets, Senor Juan, I shall first bring you all therest of my souvenirs. The castanets will be the very last to go. And howI hope that I shall never, never have to part with them!"
COURT OF DOLLS, ALCAZAR]