noon
Through the live-long sunny day she had parried his love-talk with light and complete skill , enjoying herself , and liking him very well , as she had done since they were two children playing together in the Arizona desert . She was quite mistress of the situation , because she was a woman , and he as yet merely a boy ; he was only twenty-two ; she was almost sixteen . The Mexican man at twenty-two may be as experienced as his Northern brother of thirty , but at sixteen the Mexican woman is also mature , and can competently deal with the man . So this girl had relished the thoughtless morning and noon as they passed ; but twice lately she had glanced across the low tree-tops of her garden down the trail , where the cañon descended to the silent plain below . `` I think I must go back now , '' said the young man , not thinking so . He had a guitar from the cabin . `` Oh ! ''