many words； but she took her sister into the garden； where
they could be quite alone； and she sought the girl's
confidence because she was sure she could be to her a loving
guide。
Isabel was ready enough to talk； and the morning was conducive
to confidence。 They strolled slowly between the myrtle hedges
in the sweet gloom of overshadowing trees； hearing only like
a faint musical confusion the mingled murmur of the city。
〃It was just here；〃 said Isabel。 〃I was walking and
sitting and doing nothing at all but looking at the trees and
the birds and feeling happy； and Don Luis came to me。 He
might have come down from the skies； I was so astonished。 And
he looked so handsome； and he said such words！ Oh； Antonia！
they went straight to my heart。〃
〃When was this； dear？〃
〃It was in the morning。 I had been to mass with Rachela。 I
had said every prayer with my whole heart； and Rachela told me
I might stay in the garden until the sun grew hot。 And as
soon as Rachela was gone； Don Luis camecame just as sudden
as an angel。〃
〃He must have followed you from mass。〃
〃Perhaps。〃
〃He should not have done that。〃
〃If a thing is delightful； nobody should do it。 Luis said he
knew that it was decided that we should marry； but that he
wanted me to be his wife because I loved him。 His face was
shining with joy； his eyes were like two stars； he called me
his life； his adorable mistress； his queen； and he knelt down
and took my hands and kissed them。 I was too happy to speak。〃
〃Oh； Iza！〃
〃Very well； Antonia！ It is easy to say ‘Oh； Iza'； but what
would you have done？ And reflect on this； no one； not even
Rachela； saw him。 So then； our angels were quite agreeable
and willing。 And II was in such joy； that I went straight
in and told Holy Maria of my happiness。 But when a person has
not been in love； how can they know； and I see that you are
going to say as Sister Sacrementa said to Lores Valdez‘You
are a wicked girl； and such things are not to be spoken of！'〃
〃Oh； my darling one； I am not so cruel。 I think you did
nothing very wrong； Iza。 When love comes into your soul； it
is like a new life。 If it is a pure； good love； it is a kind
of murder to kill it in any way。〃
〃It has just struck me； Antonia； that you may be in love
also。〃
〃When I was in New York； our brother Jack had a friend； and he
loved me； and I loved him。〃
〃But did grandmamma let him talk to you？〃
〃He came every night。 We went walking and driving。 In the
summer we sailed upon the river； in the winter we skated upon
the ice。 He helped me with my lessons。 He went with me
to church。〃
〃And was grandmamma with you？〃
〃Very seldom。 Often Jack was with us； more often we were
quite alone。〃
〃Holy Virgin！ Who ever heard tell of such good fortune？
Consuelo Ladrello had never been an hour alone with Don
Domingo before they were married。〃
〃A good girl does not need a duenna to watch her； that is what
I think。 And an American girl； pure and free； would not
suffer herself to be watched by any woman； old or young。 Her
lover comes boldly into her home； she is too proud； to meet
him in secret。〃
〃Ah！ that would be a perfect joy。 That is what I would like！
But fancy what Rachela would say； and mi madre would cover her
eyes and refuse to see me if I said such words。 Believe this。
It was in the spring Luis told me that he loved me； and though
I have seen him often since； he has never found another moment
to speak to me alone； not for one five minutes。 Oh； Antonia！
let me have one five minutes this afternoon！ He is going
away； and there is to be war； and I may never； never see
him again！〃
〃Do not weep； little dove。 How can you see him this
afternoon？〃
〃He will be here； in this very place； I know he will。 When he
put the suchil flower to his lips last night he made me
understand it。 This afternoon； during the hour of siesta；
will you come with me？ Only for five minutes； Antonia！ You
can manage Rachela； I am sure you can。〃
〃I can manage Rachela； and you shall have one whole hour； Iza。
One whole hour！ Come； now； we must make a visit to our
mother。 She will be wondering at our delay。〃
The Senora had not yet risen。 She had taken her chocolate and
smoked her cigarito； but was still drowsing。 〃I have had a
bad night； children；〃 she said full of dreadful dreams。 It
must have been that American。 Yet； Holy Mother； how handsome
he is！ And I assure you that he has the good manners of a
courtier。 Still； it was an imprudence； and Senora Valdez will
make some great thing of it。〃
〃You were in your own house； mother。 What has Senora Valdez
to do with the guest in it？ We might as well make some
great thing about Captain Morello being present at her party。〃
〃I have to say to you； Antonia； that Morello is a Castilian；
his family is without a cross。 He has the parchments of his
noble ancestry to show。〃
And Senor Houston is an AmericanScotch…American； he said；
last night。 Pardon； my mother； but do you know what the men
of Scotland are？〃
〃Si！； They are monsters！ Fray Ignatius has told me。 They
are heretics of the worst kind。 It is their special delight
to put to death good Catholic priests。 I saw that in a book；
it must be true。〃
〃Oh； no； mother！ It is not true！ It is mere nonsense。
Scotchmen do not molest priests； women； and children。 They
are the greatest fighters in the world。〃
〃Quien sabe？ Who has taught you so much about these savages？〃
〃Indeed； mother； they are not savages。 They are a very
learned race of men； and very pious also。 Jack has many
Scotch…American friends。 I know one of them very well〃； and
with the last words her face flushed； and her voice fell
insensibly into slow and soft inflections。
〃Jack knows many of them！ That is likely。 Your father would
send him to New York。 All kinds of men are in New York。 Fray
Ignatius says they have to keep an army of police there。 No
wonder！ And my son is so full of nobilities； so generous； so
honorable； he will not keep himself exclusive。 He is the true
resemblance of my brother Don Juan Flores。 Juan was always
pitying the poor and making friends with those beneath him。
At last he went into the convent of the Bernardines and died
like a very saint。〃
〃I think our Jack will be more likely to die like a very hero。
If there is any thing Jack hates； it is oppression。 He would
right a beggar； if he saw him wronged。〃
〃Poco a poco！ I am tired of rights and wrongs。 Let us talk
a little about our dresses； for there will be a gay winter。
Senora Valdez assured me of it； many soldiers are coming here；
and we shall have parties； and cock…fights； and； perhaps； even
a bull…feast。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Isabel clapping her hands enthusiastically； 〃a
bull…feast！ That is what I long to see！〃
At this moment the doctor entered the room； and Isabel ran to
meet him。 No father could have resisted her pretty ways； her
kisses； her endearments； her coaxing diminutives of speech；
her childlike loveliness and simplicity。
〃What is making you so happy； Queridita？〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Little dear。
〃Mi madre says there is perhaps to be a bullfeast this winter。
Holy Virgin； think of it！ That is the one thing I long to
see！〃
With her clinging arms around him； and her eager face lifted
to his for sympathy； the father could not dash the hope which
he knew in his heart was very unlikely to be realized。
Neither did he think it necessary to express opposition or
disapproval for what had as yet no tangible existence。 So he
answered her with smiles and caresses； and a little quotation
which committed him to nothing：
〃As； Panem et Circenses was the cry
Among the Roman populace of old；
So； Pany Toros！ is the cry of Spain。〃
The Senora smiled appreciatively and put out her hand。
〃Pan y Toros！〃 she repeated。 〃And have you reflected；
children； that no other nation in the world cries it。 Only
Spain and her children！ That is because only men of the
Spanish race are brave enough to fight bulls； and only Spanish
bulls are brave enough to fight men。〃
She was quite pleased with herself for this speech； and
finding no one inclined to dispute the statement； she went on
to describe a festival of bulls she had been present at in the
city of Mexico。 The subject delighted her； and she grew
eloquent over it； and； conscious only of Isabel's shining eyes
and enthusiastic interest； she did not notice the air of
thoughtfulness which had settled over her husband's face； nor
yet Antonia's ill…disguised weariness and anxiety。
On the night of the Valdez's party her father had said he
would talk with her。 Antonia was watching for the confidence；
but not with any great desire。 Her heart and her
intelligence told her it would mean trouble； and she had that
natural feeling of youth which gladly postpones the evil day。
And while her father was silent she believed there were still
possibilities of escape from it。 So she was not sorry
that he again went to his office in the city without any
special word for her。 It was another day stolen from the
uncertain future； for the calm usage of the present； and she
was determined to make happiness in it。
When all was still in the afternoon Isabel came to her。 She
would not put the child to the necessity of again asking her
help。 She rose at once； and said：
〃Sit here； Iza； until I have opened the door for us。 Then she
took a rich silk kerchief； blue as the sky； in her hand； and
went to the wide； matted hall。 There she found Rachela；
asleep on a cane lounge。 Antonia woke her。
〃Rachela； I wish to go into the garden for an hour。〃
The Senorita does the thing she wants to； Rachela would not
presume to interfere。 The Senorita became an Americano in New
York。〃
〃There are good things in New York； Rachela； for instance；
this kerchief。〃
〃That is indeed magnificent！〃
〃If you permit my sister to walk in the garden with me； I
shall give it to you this moment。〃
〃Dona Isabel is different。 She is a Mexicaine。 She must be
watched continually。〃
〃For what reason？ She is as innocent as an angel。〃
〃Let her simply grow up； and you will see that she is not
in