s lost in wonder and admiration at the change in her； and at her double personality。 Having satisfied my wants； she moved quietly away and； raising a straw mat； disappeared behind it into her own sleeping…apartment； which was divided off by a partition from the room I was in。
The old man's sleeping…place was a wooden cot or stand on the opposite side of the room； but he was in no hurry to sleep； and after Rima had left us； put a fresh log on the blaze and lit another cigarette。 Heaven knows how many he had smoked by this time。 He became very talkative and called to his side his two dogs； which I had not noticed in the room before； for me to see。 It amused me to hear their namesSusio and Goloso： Dirty and Greedy。 They were surly…looking brutes； with rough yellow hair； and did not win my heart； but according to his account they possessed all the usual canine virtues； and he was still holding forth on the subject when I fell asleep。
CHAPTER VIII
When morning came I was too stiff and sore to move； and not until the following day was I able to creep out to sit in the shade of the trees。 My old host； whose name was Nuflo； went off with his dogs； leaving the girl to attend to my wants。 Two or three times during the day she appeared to serve me with food and drink； but she continued silent and constrained in manner as on the first evening of seeing her in the hut。
Late in the afternoon old Nuflo returned； but did not say where he had been； and shortly afterwards Rima reappeared； demure as usual； in her faded cotton dress； her cloud of hair confined in two long plaits。 My curiosity was more excited than ever； and I resolved to get to the bottom of the mystery of her life。 The girl had not shown herself responsive； but now that Nuflo was back I was treated to as much talk as I cared to hear。 He talked of many things； only omitting those which I desired to hear about； but his pet subject appeared to be the divine government of the world〃God's politics〃and its manifest imperfections； or； in other words； the manifold abuses which from time to time had been allowed to creep into it。 The old man was pious； but like many of his class in my country； he permitted himself to indulge in very free criticisms of the powers above； from the King of Heaven down to the smallest saint whose name figures in the calendar。
〃These things； senor；〃 he said； 〃are not properly managed。 Consider my position。 Here am I compelled for my sins to inhabit this wilderness with my poor granddaughter〃
〃She is not your granddaughter！〃 I suddenly interrupted； thinking to surprise him into an admission。
But he took his time to answer。 〃Senor； we are never sure of anything in this world。 Not absolutely sure。 Thus； it may come to pass that you will one day marry； and that your wife will in due time present you with a sonone that will inherit your fortune and transmit your name to posterity。 And yet； sir； in this world； you will never know to a certainty that he is your son。〃
〃Proceed with what you were saying；〃 I returned； with some dignity。
〃Here we are；〃 he continued； 〃compelled to inhabit this land and do not meet with proper protection from the infidel。 Now； sir； this is a crying evil； and it is only becoming in one who has the true faith； and is a loyal subject of the All…Powerful； to point out with due humility that He is growing very remiss in His affairs； and is losing a good deal of His prestige。 And what； senor； is at the bottom of it？ Favoritism。 We know that the Supreme cannot Himself be everywhere； attending to each little trick…track that arises in the worldmatters altogether beneath His notice； and that He must； like the President of Venezuela or the Emperor of Brazil； appoint menangels if you liketo conduct His affairs and watch over each district。 And it is manifest that for this country of Guayana the proper person has not been appointed。 Every evil is done and there is no remedy； and the Christian has no more consideration shown him than the infidel。 Now； senor； in a town near the Orinoco I once saw on a church the archangel Michael； made of stone； and twice as tall as a man； with one foot on a monster shaped like a cayman； but with bat's wings； and a head and neck like a serpent。 Into this monster he was thrusting his spear。 That is the kind of person that should be sent to rule these latitudesa person of firmness and resolution； with strength in his wrist。 And yet it is probable that this very man… …this St。 Michaelis hanging about the palace； twirling his thumbs； waiting for an appointment； while other weaker men； andHeaven forgive me for saying itnot above a bribe； perhaps； are sent out to rule over this province。〃
On this string he would harp by the hour； it was a lofty subject on which he had pondered much in his solitary life； and he was glad of an opportunity of ventilating his grievance and expounding his views。 At first it was a pure pleasure to hear Spanish again； and the old man； albeit ignorant of letters； spoke well； but this； I may say； is a common thing in our country； where the peasant's quickness of intelligence and poetic feeling often compensate for want of instruction。 His views also amused me； although they were not novel。 But after a while I grew tired of listening； yet I listened still； agreeing with him； and leading him on to let him have his fill of talk； always hoping that he would come at last to speak of personal matters and give me an account of his history and of Rima's origin。 But the hope proved vain； not a word to enlighten me would he drop； however cunningly I tempted him。
〃So be it；〃 thought I； 〃but if you are cunning； old man； I shall be cunning tooand patient； for all things come to him who waits。〃
He was in no hurry to get rid of me。 On the contrary； he more than hinted that I would be safer under his roof than with the Indians； at the same time apologizing for not giving me meat to eat。
〃But why do you not have meat？ Never have I seen animals so abundant and tame as in this wood。〃 Before he could reply Rima； with a jug of water from the spring in her hand； came in； glancing at me； he lifted his finger to signify that such a subject must not be discussed in her presence； but as soon as she quitted the room he returned to it。
〃Senor；〃 he said； 〃have you forgotten your adventure with the snake？ Know； then； that my grandchild would not live with me for one day longer if I were to lift my hand against any living creature。 For us； senor； every day is fast…dayonly without the fish。 We have maize； pumpkin； cassava； potatoes； and these suffice。 And even of these cultivated fruits of the earth she eats but little in the house； preferring certain wild berries and gums； which are more to her taste； and which she picks here and there in her rambles in the wood。 And I； sir； loving her as I do； whatever my inclination may be； shed no blood and eat no flesh。〃
I looked at him with an incredulous smile。
〃And your dogs； old man？〃
〃My dogs？ Sir； they would not pause or turn aside if a coatimundi crossed their pathan animal with a strong odour。 As a man is； so is his dog。 Have you not seen dogs eating grass； sir； even in Venezuela； where these sentiments do not prevail？ And when there is no meatwhen meat is forbiddenthese sagacious animals accustom themselves to a vegetable diet。〃
I could not very well tell the old man that he was lying to methat would have been bad policyand so I passed it off。 〃I have no doubt that you are right；〃 I said。 〃I have heard that there are dogs in China that eat no meat； but are themselves eaten by their owners after being fattened on rice。 I should not care to dine on one of your animals； old man。〃
He looked at them critically and replied： 〃Certainly they are lean。〃
〃I was thinking less of their leanness than of their smell；〃 I returned。 〃Their odour when they approach me is not flowery； but resembles that of other dogs which feed on flesh； and have offended my too sensitive nostrils even in the drawing…rooms of Caracas。 It is not like the fragrance of cattle when they return from the pasture。〃
〃Every animal；〃 he replied； 〃gives out that odour which is peculiar to its kind〃； an incontrovertible fact which left me nothing to say。
When I had sufficiently recovered the suppleness of my limbs to walk with ease； I went for a ramble in the wood； in the hope that Rima would accompany me； and that out among the trees she would cast aside that artificial constraint and shyness which was her manner in the house。
It fell out just as I had expected； she accompanied me in the sense of being always near me； or within earshot； and her manner was now free and unconstrained as I could wish； but little or nothing was gained by the change。 She was once more the tantalizing； elusive； mysterious creature I had first known through her wandering； melodious voice。 The only difference was that the musical； inarticulate sounds were now less often heard； and that she was no longer afraid to show herself to me。 This for a short time was enough to make me happy； since no lovelier being was ever looked upon； nor one whose loveliness was less likely to lose its charm through being often seen。
But to keep her near me or always in sight was； I found； impossible： she would be free as the wind； free as the butterfly； going and coming at her wayward will； and losing herself from sight a dozen times every hour。 To induce her to walk soberly at my side or sit down and enter into conversation with me seemed about as impracticable as to tame the fiery…hearted little humming…bird that flashes into sight； remains suspended motionless for a few seconds before your face； then； quick as lightning； vanishes again。
At length； feeling convinced that she was most happy when she had me out following her in the wood； that in spite of her bird…like wildness she had a tender； human heart； which was easily moved； I determined to try to draw her closer by means of a little innocent stratagem。 Going out in the morning； after calling her several times to no purpose； I began to assume a downcast manner； as if suffering pain or depressed with grief； and at last； finding a convenient exposed root under a tree； on a spot where the ground was dry and str