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100 vals he wandered, especially when just arousing from sleep; and, strangely enough, it was always for Alessandro that he called at these times, and it seemed always to be music that he craved. He recollected Alessandro's having sung to him that first night. “I was not so crazy as you all thought,” he said. “I knew a great many of the things I said, but I couldn't help saying them; and I heard Ramona ask Alessandro to sing; and when he began, I remember I thought the Virgin had reached down and put her hand on my head and cooled it.”

On the second evening, the first after the shearers had left, Alessandro, seeing Ramona in the veranda, went to the foot of the steps, and said, “Señorita, would Señor Felipe like to have me play on the violin to him to-night?”

“Why, whose violin have you got?” exclaimed Ramona, astonished.

“My own, Señorita.”

“Your own! I thought you said you did not bring it.”

“Yes, Señorita, that is true; but I sent for it last night, and it is here.”

“Sent to Temecula and back already!” cried Ramona.

“Yes, Señorita. Our ponies are swift and strong. They can go a hundred miles in a day, and not suffer. It was José brought it, and he is at the Ortega's by this time.”

Ramona's eyes glistened. “I wish I could have thanked him,” she said. “You should have let me know. He ought to have been paid for going.”

“I paid him, Señorita; he went for me;” said Alessandro, with a shade of wounded pride in the tone, which Ramona should have perceived, but did not, and went on hurting the lover's heart still more.