The mother of Fernando is not my wife,
but I love her, and she is poor though beautiful and good.
I would have her less poor; I would give her beautiful
things. I have love for my kindred,--love and yearning
and care and desire to do them good, alike those who trust
me and those who think that I had failed them. I do not
fail them!"
We padded on upon the dusty road. I felt his inner
warmth, divined his life. But at last I said, "What the
Queen and King promise would give rich care--"
"I have friends too, for all that I ride out of Spain and
seem so poor and desolate! I would repay--ay, ten times
over--their faith and their help."
"Still--"
"There are moreover the poor, and those who study and
need books and maps that they cannot purchase. There are
convents--one convent especially--that befriended me
when I was alone and nigh hopeless and furthered my
cause. I would give that convent great gifts." Turning in
the saddle he looked southwest. "Fray Juan Perez--"
Palos shore spread about me, and rose La Rabida, white
among vineyards and pines. Doves flew over cloister. But
I did not say all I knew.
"There are other things that I would do. I do not speak
of them to many! They would say that I was mad. But
great things that in this age none else seems inclined to do!"
"As what?" I asked.
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