"I will leave you alone with her after we have seen El Sordo."
Robert Jordan said nothing.
Then he said,
"That is not necessary."
"Yes, man.
It is necessary.
There is not much time."
"Did you see that in the hand?" he asked.
"No.
Do not remember that nonsense of the hand."
She had put that away with all the other things that might do ill to the Republic.
Robert Jordan said nothing.
He was looking at Maria putting away the dishes inside the cave.
She wiped her hands and turned and smiled at him.
She could not hear what Pilar was saying, but as she smiled at Robert Jordan she blushed dark under the tawny skin and then smiled at him again.
"There is the day also," the woman said.
"You have the night, but there is the day, too.
Clearly, there is no such luxury as in Valencia in my time.
But you could pick a few wild strawberries or something."
She laughed.
Robert Jordan put his arm on her big shoulder.
"I care for thee, too," he said.
"I care for thee very much."
"Thou art a regular Don Juan Tenorio," the woman said, embarrassed now with affection.
"There is a commencement of caring for every one.
Here comes Agustin."
Robert Jordan went into the cave and up to where Maria was standing.
She watched him come toward her, her eyes bright, the blush again on her cheeks and throat.
"Hello, little rabbit," he said and kissed her on the mouth.
She held him tight to her and looked in his face and said,
"Hello.
Oh, hello.
Hello."
Fernando, still sitting at the table smoking a cigarette, stood up, shook his head and walked out, picking up his carbine from where it leaned against the wall.
"It is very unformal," he said to Pilar.
"And I do not like it.
You should take care of the girl."
"I am," said Pilar.
"That comrade is her _novio_."
"Oh," said Fernando.
"In that case, since they are engaged, I encounter it to be perfectly normal."
"I am pleased," the woman said.
"Equally," Fernando agreed gravely. "_Salud_, Pilar."
"Where are you going?"
"To the upper post to relieve Primitivo."
"Where the hell are you going?" Agustin asked the grave little man as he came up.
"To my duty," Fernando said with dignity.
"Thy duty," said Agustin mockingly.
"I besmirch the milk of thy duty."
Then turning to the woman, "Where the un-nameable is this vileness that I am to guard?"