idness。
They sat for a moment or two。 〃We'll be locked out；〃 Marta mourned。 〃We'll have had the whole trip out for nothing。〃 She shifted her head and shoulders outward along her seat to scan the seemingly lifeless rear of the establishment。 She shattered the silence with an explosive double smack of her cupped hands。 〃Muchacho！ We're in a hurry！〃 she called imperatively。
The waiter returned at a trudging walk； his excuse for not hurrying any faster the brimming cup of strongly aromatic tea and glass of lemonade he bore on the tray。
Marta ducked her chin to the cup； smacked her lips expressively as she raised it again。 Conchita； who was sitting facing the thoroughfare outside； kept scanning it； more as though she were on the lookout for something to e along and catch her eye than because something had。 Suddenly she gave a little sob of suppressed laughter； flexed one finger toward the outer panorama。
〃You should have seen that！ The funniest…looking man just went by。 I wonder what he was。〃
Marta； who was sitting back to the road； laboriously swiveled herself around and tried to peer out past the edge of the booth partition behind her。
She turned back in a moment； shrugged。 〃I don't see anyone。〃
A little ripple was going around in her cup。
〃You missed him。 He's gone past now。〃
Marta said； 〃You do look pale； nina。〃
Conchita did look pale。 She wasn't used to acts of overt treachery against members of her own household。 Against anyone； for that matter。
Another minute or two went by。 Marta put down her drained cup。
〃e pequena； we must go。〃
〃Just let's sit a minute longer。 It's so nice here。 I haven't quite finished my lemonade yet。〃
〃The sun is almost all gone。 It'll be dark before we know it。 We can't go in there in the dark。〃
〃You look tired； Marta。〃
As though she had only realized it now that the thought had been suggested to her； Marta admitted： 〃I am tired。 I went 'to six…o'clock Mass this morning。〃 She sighed self…indulgently。 〃When one gets to be my age…〃
〃Put your head back a minute against the leather padding；〃 the girl suggested。
〃It wouldn't look right； out in public like this。〃
〃There's no one but us here to see。〃
The old woman's head went back almost of its own accord； she closed her eyes gratefully； and gave a deep sigh of relaxation。 Her head stayed straight for a minute； erect on her shoulders。 Then it slanted over until it had found the angle between the two walls of the partment； remained leaning against it； supported by one of them。 Her breathing started to bee more gritty。 Her lips parted pany slightly； just in the middle。
The girl sat quietly on opposite her a moment longer。 Then she shifted outward along the seat until the impediment of the table had ended； stood up； never taking her eyes off her deputy guardian's face。 The heavy jowls were shaking a little now； with each breath。
She reached cautiously downward for the mass of flowers beside Marta； scooped them up in the crook of one arm； careful to keep them from rustling too flagrantly。 She got them all but one； a long…stemmed white rose which escaped her。 She let that remain where it was。 To have tried to retrieve it might have cost her all the others。
She picked her way through the shoal of spool…topped tables； moving like a black…garbed wraith against the dying brightness of the day outside。 When she had gained the lateral aisle of clearance that led to the front and out； she motioned the waiter toward her before proceeding along it； at the same time cautioning him with finger to lips。
〃 Si； seсorita？ 〃
〃My nodriza's very tired； pobrecita。 I'm going to leave her here for a few minutes。 Don't wake her up； please； until I get back。 I'm just going across the street。 I'll be back for her in a quarter of an hour。〃
〃Just as the seсorita orders it；〃 he murmured respectfully。 A refined young girl in mourning from head to foot； an armful of flowers obviously destined for a grave…who could think anything amiss？
She moved decorously enough until she had gained the terrace outside and the street beyond that。 Then； because the cemetery entrance was some considerable distance down； not directly opposite； and because the sun was already expiring in a pool of blood in the western sky； and her precious store of stolen minutes was draining away through her fingers like sand； she began to hasten。 Unnoticeably at first。 In a moment more she was presenting the rather grotesque； not to say scandalous； spectacle of black…garbed mourner； flowers bobbing up and down in arms； veil ends and skirts streaming out behind her； rushing along full tilt toward a burial…ground entrance； as though the dead couldn't wait； as though she couldn't get in fast enough to offer them her homage。 One or two heads turned to look incredulously after her as she whisked by。
She was out of breath as she rounded the ornamental entrance archway； black…silk…encased legs trip…hammering under her so fast they almost blurred。 〃I don't want you to have anything undignified to have to look back on later。〃 Tell that to love！
Her sense of propriety returned to her just in time； she forced herself to slow to a more sedate though still rather rapid walk； as she passed between the ponderous； bronze gate flaps； outstretched like a pair of wings waiting to receive and fold upon her。 The gift of some wealthy private donor； they were expensively worked in basrelief。 On one was inscribed： That which is so universal as death must be a blessing。 And on the opposite one： And none may escape its benediction。
She passed through them without a glance。 The living have no time to look at death； they cannot see it even if they try。
A short distance within and beyond them was a little lodge； scarcely more than a stone sentry box； used by the gatekeeper during hours of admission。 He was standing in the narrow doorway of it； looking out； as she Went by。 He was a kindly； monplace…looking old man； obviously nearsighted as she could tell by the way he squinted at her in peering uncertainty。
She stopped short； mbved a step or two over toward him。 〃Has a young man e in here within the past half…hour or so； have you noticed？ Dark…haired and thin and； and by himself？〃
〃Sort of a good…looking young fellow？〃 he suggested。
〃Oh； handsome！〃 she agreed fervently； casting a rapturous upward look at the sky。
The old man smiled a little with tolerant understanding。 〃Yes； nina； yes； I have seen someone like that。 Three times within the past ten minutes he's been out here to the entrance； looking for someone； getting more restless all the time； asking me if I'd seen…someone very beautiful； in black with jet…black hair； bringing a servant girl with her。〃
She dropped her eyes； quickly raised them again。
〃He's still in there； though？ He didn't leave？〃 she said relievedly。
〃He's still in there as far as I know。 I don't remember seeing hini leave。 Unless he left while I was making my last tour of inspection。〃
〃No；〃 she assured him； with a sort of charming inner conviction； 〃he didn't； he's still in there。 Thank you。〃
She turned and resumed her way down the long broad central avenue that led farther in before it began to unravel into numberless； winding； white…graveled paths； all looking pretty much alike and all already taking on a bluish cast as they filled up with the silt of night shadow。
〃Don't stay in too long； seсorita；〃 the gatekeeper called after her in kindly warning。 〃When you hear my whistle blow that means we're closing。 You only have a minute or two left。〃
She only half heard him。 An invisible current that he couldn't see had swept her up； was pulling her irresistibly forward。 Whistles and gates and quotas of minutes couldn't weaken or stop it or interfere。 This was the time for love； treasured； hoarded； waited for； ever since the time before。
She walked rapidly down the somber avenue； through an eerie landscape fast dimming in the twilight。 Eerie because it was neither natural nor human； it was that of the other world。 There was a classical severity to it； a cold melancholy； that nature lacks。 These cypresses； poplars； weeping willows； ar