'Sir,' said I, 'you know that I do not ask in wantonness.

What of that family ?' He said they were very unfortunate; that it seemed a declining race, and that they were very poor and had been much neglected.
'But she has not,' I said.

'Thanks, doubtless, to yourself, she is instructed and wise beyond the use of women.' 'Yes,' he said; 'the Senorita is well-informed.

But the family has been neglected.' 'The mother ?' I queried.
'Yes, the mother too,' said the Padre, taking snuff.

'But Felipe is a well-intentioned lad.' 'The mother is odd ?' I asked.
'Very odd,' replied the priest.
'I think, sir, we beat about the bush,' said I.