thoroughfares； but that indescribable feeling of good will
which comes with Christmas pervaded the atmosphere； and gave；
even in the midst of war and danger； a sense of anticipated
pleasure。
At the Worth residence there was a household feast。 The
Senora and her daughters were in full dress。 They were
waiting for the dear ones who had promised to join them at the
Angelus。 One by one the houses around were illuminated。
Parties of simple musicians began to pass each other
continuallythey were going to serenade the blessed Mary all
night long。 As Antonia closed the balcony window； half a
dozen of these young boys passed the garden hedge singing to
the clacking of their castanets
〃This is the eve of Christmas；
No sleep from night to morn；
The Virgin is in travail；
At twelve will the Child be born。〃
Luis appeared at the same moment。 He caught up the wild
melody and came up the garden path singing it。 Dare and the
doctor followed him。 It struck Antonia that they were
talking of a change； or of something important。 But there was
no time for observation。 Isabel； radiant in crimson satin；
with her white mantilla over her head； darted forward to meet
Luis； and turned his song to the Virgin into a little
adulation for herself。 Dare and the doctor took Antonia's
hands； and there was something in the silent clasp of each
which made her heart tremble。
But she was not one of those foolish women who enquire after
misfortune。 She could wait and let the evil news find her；
and by so doing she won many a bright hour from the advancing
shadows。 The Senora was in unusual spirits。 She had obtained
a new confessor。 〃A man of the most seraphic mind； and；
moreover； so fortunate as to be connected with the house of
Flores。〃 He had been gentle to her in the matter of penances；
and not set her religious obligations above her capacities。
Consequently； the Senora had laid aside her penitential
garments。 She was in full Castilian costume； and looked very
handsome。 But Antonia； who had been in New York during those
years when she would otherwise have been learning how to
wear a mantilla and use a fan； did not attempt such
difficulties of the toilet。 She knew that she would look
unnatural in them； and she adhered to the American fashions of
her day。 But in a plain frock of dark satin trimmed with
minever bands； she looked exceedingly noble and lovely。
The meal was a very merry one； and after it Lopez Navarro
joined the party and they had music and dancing； and finally
gathered around the fire to hear the singing of Luis。 He knew
a great many of the serenades； and as he sang of the Virgin
and the Babe； a sweeter peace； a more solemn joy； came to each
heart。 It was like bringing something of the bliss of heaven
into the bliss of earth。 The Senora's eyes were full of
tears； she slipped her hand into her husband's and looked at
him with a face which asked； 〃Do you not also feel the
eternity of a true love？〃
〃How sweet and wild are these serenades； Luis！ said Antonia。
〃I wonder who wrote them？〃
〃But； then； they were never written； my sister。 Out of the
hearts of lonely shepherds they came； or of women spinning in
their quiet houses； yes； even of soldiers in the strong
places keeping their watch。〃
〃That is the truth； Luis；〃 answered Isabel。 〃And every
Christmas； when I was in the convent the Sisters made a
serenade to the Virgin； or a seguidilla to our blessed Lord。
Very still are the Sisters； but when it comes to singing； I
can assure you the angels might listen！〃
〃There is a seguidilla I hear everywhere；〃 said the doctor；
〃and I never hear it without feeling the better for listening。
It begins‘So noble a Lord。'〃
〃That； indeed！〃 cried Luis。 〃Who knows it not？ It is the
seguidilla to our blessed Lord； written by the daughter of
Lope de Vegathe holy Marcela Carpio。 You know it； Senora？〃
〃As I know my Credo； Luis。〃
〃And you； Isabel？〃
〃Since I was a little one； as high as my father's knee。
Rachela taught it to me。〃
〃And you； Lopez。〃
〃That is sure； Luis。〃
〃And I； too！〃 said Antonia； smiling。 〃Here is your mandolin。
Strike the chords； and we will all sing with you。 My
father will remember also。〃 And the doctor smiled an assent；
as the young man resigned Isabel's hand with a kiss； and swept
the strings in that sweetness and power which flows invisibly；
but none the less surely； from the heart to the instrument。
〃It is to my blessed Lord and Redeemer； I sing；〃 he said；
bowing his head。 Then he stood up and looked at his
companions； and struck the key…note； when every one joined
their voices with his in the wonderful little hymn：
So noble a Lord
None serves in vain；
For the pay of my love
Is my love's sweet pain。
In the place of caresses
Thou givest me woes；
I kiss Thy hands；
When I feel their blows。
For in Thy chastening；
Is joy and peace；
O Master and Lord！
Let thy blows not cease。
I die with longing
Thy face to see
And sweet is the anguish
Of death to me。
For； because Thou lovest me；
Lover of mine！
Death can but make me
Utterly Thine！
The doctor was the first to speak after the sweet triumph of
the notes had died away。 〃Many a soul I have seen pass
whispering those verses；〃 he said； 〃men and women； and little
children。〃
〃The good Marcela in heaven has that for her joy；〃 answered
Luis。
Lopez rose while the holy influence still lingered。 He kissed
the hands of every one； and held the doctor's in his own until
they reached the threshold。 A more than usual farewell took
place there； though there were only a few whispered words。
〃Farewell； Lopez！ I can trust you？〃
〃Unto death。〃
〃If we never meet again？〃
〃Still it will be FAREWELL。 Thou art in God's care。〃
Very slowly the doctor sauntered back to the parlor； like a
man who has a heavy duty to； do and hardly knows how to begin
it。 〃But I will tell Maria first；〃 he whispered； and then
he opened the door； and saw the Senora bidding her
children good…night。
〃What a happy time we have had！〃 she was saying。 〃I shall
never forget it。 Indeed； my dears； you see how satisfactory
it is to be religious。 When we talk of the saints and angels；
they come round us to listen to what we say； accordingly； we
are full of peace and pleasure。 I know that because I heard
FrayI heard a very good man say so。〃
She smiled happily at her husband； as she took his arm； and
twice； as they went slowly upstairs together； she lifted her
face for his kiss。 Her gentleness and affection made it hard
for him to speak； but there were words to be said that could
be no longer delayed； and when he had closed the room door； he
took her hands in his； and looked into her face with eyes that
told her all。
〃You are going away； Roberto；〃 she whispered。
〃My love！ Yes！ To…nightthis very hour I must go！ Luis and
Dare also。 Do not weep。 I entreat you！ My heart is heavy；
and your tears I cannot bear。〃
Then she answered； with a noble Composure： 〃I will give
you smiles and kisses。 My good Roberto； so true and kind！ I
will try to be worthy of you。 Nay； but you must not weep
Roberto！〃
It was true。 Quite unconsciously the troubled husband and
father was weeping。 〃I fear to leave you； dear Maria。 All is
so uncertain。 I can only ask you two favors； if you will
grant them； you will do all that can be done to send me away
with hope。 Will you promise me to have nothing to do whatever
with Fray Ignatius； and to resist every attempt he may make to
induce you to go into a religious house of any kind？〃
〃I promise you； Roberto。 By my mother's cross； I promise
you！〃
〃Again； dear Maria； if you should be in any danger； promise me
that you will do as Antonia and Lopez Navarro think it wisest
and best。〃
〃Go with God； my； husband。 Go with God； in a good hour。 All
you wish； I will do。〃
He held her to his heart and kissed her； and she whispered
amid her tender farewells to himself； messages to her soils
but especially to Juan。 〃Will you see Juan？ If you do； tell
him I repent。 I send him a thousand blessings！ Ah； the
dear one！ Kiss him for me； Roberto！ Tell him how much I love
him； Roberto！ How I sorrow because I was cross to him！ My
precious one！ My good son； who always loved me so dearly！〃
At length Isabel came in to weep in her mother's arms。 〃Luis
is going away；〃 she cried。 The father felt a momentary keen
pang of jealousy。 〃I am going also； queridita；〃 he said
mournfully。 Then she threw her arms around his neck and
bewailed her bad fortune。 〃If I were the Almighty God； I
would not give love and then take it away；〃 she murmured。 〃I
would give orders that the good people should always be happy。
I would not let men like Santa Anna live。 He is a measureless
monster； and ought to go to the dto purgatory； at the very
least。〃
While the Senora soothed her complaining； the doctor left。
One troubled glance of a great love he cast backward from the
door ere he clos