One troubled glance of a great love he cast backward from the
door ere he closed it behind him； and then his countenance
suddenly changed。 Stern and strong it grew； with a glow of
anger in the steel…blue eyes that gave an entirely new
character to it。
He called Antonia into his study； and talked with her of
the crisis which was approaching； and of the conduct of their
affairs in it。 He showed her the places in which his gold
coin was hidden。 He told her on whom to rely in any
emergency。
〃We have sure information that General Urrea； with the
vanguard of a large Mexican army； will be here next month。
Santa Anna will follow him quickly。 You see that the city
must either be defended or our men must retreat。 I am going
to Houston with this dilemma。 Luis and Dare will join Fannin
at Goliad。 Now； my dear child； you have my place to fill。 If
Santa Anna takes possession of San Antonio； what will you do？〃
〃If we are not disturbed in any way； I will keep very quiet
within my own home。〃
〃If Fray Ignatius attempts to interfere with youwhat then？〃
〃I will fly from him； and take Isabel and mi madre with me。〃
〃That is your only safety。 I shall hear if the Americans
desert the city； then I will send your brother Thomas； if by
any possibility it can be done； to guard you to the eastern
settlements。 But I may not be able to do thisthere may
be no timeit cannot be depended uponLopez Navarro will
help you all he can； and Ortiz。 You may always rely on
Ortiz。〃
〃My father； I cannot trust Ortiz。 Every man is a master to a
peon。 He would mean to do kindly； but his cowardice might
make him false。〃
〃Ortiz is no peon。 He is a Mexican officer of high rank； whom
Santa Anna ordered to be shot。 I saved his life。 He wears
the clothes of a peonthat is necessary； but he has the honor
and gratitude of a gentleman beneath them。 If necessary；
trust Ortiz fully。 One thing above all others remember
FLIGHT before a convent。〃
〃Flight！ Yes； death before it！ I promise you； father。 When
we meet again； you shall say； well done； Antonia。〃
It was now about midnight。 They went back to the parlor。
Luis and Dare sat by the dying fire。 They were bent forward；
close together over it； talking in a low voice。 They rose
when the doctor spoke； and silently kissed Antonia。
〃It will be a hard ride； now；〃 said the doctor；〃 and Dare
answered； mechanically； 〃but we shall manage it。〃 He
held Antonia's hand； and she went with them to the rear of the
house。 Their horses were standing ready saddled。 Silently
the men mounted。 In a moment they had passed the gate； and
the beat of their horses' hoofs gradually died away。
But all through the clear spaces of the sky the Christmas
bells were ringing； and the serenaders were musically telling
each other；
〃At twelve will the Child be born！〃
CHAPTER XII。
DANGER AND HELP。
〃A curious creed they weave；
And； for the Church commands it；
All men must needs believe；
Though no man understands it。
God loves his few pet lambs；
And saves his one pet nation；
The rest he largely damns；
With swinging reprobation。〃
〃The Church may loose and bind；
But Mind； immortal Mind；
As free as wave or wind；
Came forth； O God； from Thee。〃
BLACKIE。
Dr。 Worth had set his daughter a task of no light magnitude。
It was true； that Rachela and Fray Ignatius could no longer
disturb the household by their actual presence； but their
power to cause unhappiness was not destroyed。 Among the
Mexican families loyal to Santa Anna the dismission of the
priest and the duenna had been a source of much indignant
gossip； for Rachela was one of those women who cry
out when they are hurt； and compel others to share their
trouble。 The priest had not therefore found it necessary to
explain WHY the Senora had called upon a new confessor。 He
could be silent； and possess his dignity in uncomplaining
patience； for Rachela paraded his wrongs as a kind of set…off
to her own。
Such piety！ Such virtues！ And the outrageous conduct of
the Senor Doctor！ To be sure there was cause for anger at the
Senorita Antonia。 Oh； yes！ She could crow her mind abroad！
There were booksOh； infamous books！ Books not proper to be
read； and the Senorita had them！ Well then； if the father
burned them； that was a good deed done。 And he had almost
been reviled for itsent out of the houseyes； it was quite
possible that he had been struck！ Anything was possible from
those American heretics。 As for her own treatment； after
twenty years service； it had been cruel； abominable； more than
thatiniquitous； but about these things she had spoken； and
the day of atonement would come。 Justice was informing itself
on the whole matter。
Such conversations continually diversified； extended； repeated
on all hands； quickly aroused a prejudice against the doctor's
family。 Besides which； the Senora Alveda resented bitterly
the visits of her son Luis to Isabel。 None of the customs of
a Mexican betrothal had taken place； and Rachela did not spare
her imagination in describing the scandalous American
familiarity that had been permitted。 That； this familiarity
had taken place under the eyes of the doctor and the Senora
only intensified the insult。 She might have forgiven
clandestine meetings； but that the formalities due to the
Church and herself should have been neglected was indeed
unpardonable。
It soon became evident to the Senora that she had lost the
good…will of her old friends； and the respect that had always
been given to her social position。 It was difficult for her
to believe this； and she only accepted the humiliating fact
after a variety of those small insults which women reserve for
their own sex。
She was fond of visiting； she valued the good opinion of her
caste； and in the very chill of the gravest calamities she
worried her strength away over little grievances lying
outside the walls of her home and the real affections of her
life。 And perhaps with perfect truth she asserted that SHE
had done nothing to deserve this social ostracism。 Others had
made her miserable； but she could thank the saints none could
make her guilty。
The defeat of Cos had been taken by the loyal inhabitants as
a mere preliminary to the real fight。 They were very little
disturbed by it。 It was the overt act which was necessary to
convince Mexico that her clemency to Americans was a mistake；
and that the ungrateful and impious race must be wiped out of
existence。 The newspapers not only reiterated this necessity；
but proclaimed its certainty。 They heralded the coming of
Santa Anna； the victorious avenger； with passionate
gasconading。 It was a mere question of a few days or weeks；
and in the meantime the people of San Antonio were 〃making a
little profit and pleasure to themselves out of the
extravagant reprobates。〃 There was not a day in which they
did not anticipate their revenge in local military displays；
in dances and illuminations； in bull…fights； and in
splendid religious processions。
And Antonia found it impossible to combat this influence。 It
was in the house as certain flavors were in certain foods； or
as heat was in fire。 She saw it in the faces of her servants；
and felt it in their indifference to their duty。 Every hour
she watched more anxiously for some messenger from her father。
And as day after day went by in a hopeless sameness of grief；
she grew more restless under the continual small trials that
encompassed her。
Towards the end of January； General Urrea； at the head of the
vanguard of the Mexican army； entered Texas。 His destination
was La Bahia or Goliad； a strong fortress garrisoned by
Americans under Colonel Fanning。 Santa Anna was to leave in
eight days after him。 With an army of twenty thousand men he
was coming to the relief of San Antonio。
The news filled the city with the wildest rejoicing。 The
little bells of the processions； the big bells of the
churches； the firing of cannon； the hurrahs of the tumultuous
people； made an uproar which reached the three lonely
women through the closed windows of their rooms。
〃If only Lopez Navarro would come！ If he would send us some
little message！ Holy Mary； even he has forgotten us！〃 cried
the Senora in a paroxysm of upbraiding sorrow。
At that moment the door opened； and Fray Ignatius passed the
threshold with lifted hands and a muttered blessing。 He
approached the Senora； and she fell on her knees and kissed
the hand with which he crossed her。
〃Holy father！〃 she cried； 〃the angels sent you to a despairing
woman。〃
〃My daughter； I have guided you since your first communion；
how then could I forget you？ Your husband has deserted you
you； the helpless； tender lamb； whom he swore to cherish； but
the blessed fold of your church stands open。 Come； poor weary
one； to its shelter。〃
〃My father〃
〃Listen to me！ The Mexican troops are soon to arrive。
Vengeance without mercy is to be dealt out。 You are the wife
of an American rebel； I cannot promise you your life； or your
h