THE
WOMAN WHO HAD TWO NAVELS
457
while we talked she seemed rather moody and kept getting up and
sitting down again and referring to the book until finally nothing
would do but she must read me out some passages that she said she
didn't understand. But what
I
heard in her voice was herself trying
not to understand and denying that she understood and
I
felt really
drawn to her, really sorry for her, and would have liked to rock her in
my arms though
I
had on a shabby coat and myoId beret, because
her mild manner makes you forget what both of you are wearing-until
afterwards, and then you gasp. She's a very small woman really-but
what a vitality. How old is she-forty? fifty? You don't notice her small–
ness, you're not conscious of her age.
I
didn't feel young or huge or
shabby beside her-just my basic self. And I'm surprised you didn't no–
tice it, Pepe, but she's deeply devout."
"-Because she dresses up in dragons and pagan jewels to meditate
on the Virgin?"
"-Because she meditates, in spite of the dragons and the jewclry."
"I
thought you were jealous of her, Mary."
"Oh, nonsense," she laughed, coloring a little. "Paco understands."
"Of course
I
do, darling," said Paco gravely, pushing himself up
from the floor.
"-That
I
was frantic?"
"I'd feel worried if you weren't."
"And you haven't
actually
been raping anybody, have you, dear?"
"Well, not all the way ..."
"I'm sorry
I
was frantic."
"I'm sorry about your wash, Mary."
"Here, don't bother. I'll pick them up .IIlyself-" And she jumped
up to help him.
"Oh, let's just leave the whole damned mess," he cried, "and go
take the children out to the park, shall we?"
"The sun won't last much longer."
"We've got,
uh,
about an hour-or should
I
junk this watch. Com–
ing along, Pepe old boy?"
"If
I
don't make a crowd," said Pepe, twisting around to grin at
them, stooped head to head behind his chair, their arms loaded with
the wash.
"He must enjoy watching the sexes fight," said Mary.
"I'll go get your beret and our babies," said Paco.
When Paco Texeira took his band to Manila they had a contract
to play at two night clubs there on alternate weeks for a minimum six
