then demanded ingenuonsly, Mrs. Gallagher translating:
"The señorita will attend a baile, yes? How much money will the señorita donate toward the dance music? Twenty dollars, maybe?"
Nan could not suppress a smile. The neat little plan to have a dance at her expense was rather transparent, since the entire cost of the gifted schoolmaster's orchestra for an evening was but ten dollars, as she happened to know. Nan considered. If the injured feelings of Las Rubertas could be assuaged for this modest sum she was disposed to give it. Also it might buy immunity from their thieving.
"It is a pleasure," she said with an unction truly Spanish, "to be permitted to contribute toward the enjoyment of my many good friends in Las Rubertas."
The reply lost nothing of its irony when interpreted by Mrs. Gallagher.
Doña Marianna blinked her solemn eyes, but took the money which Nan produced and departed with a haste which, to phrase it mildly, was unceremonious.
