Vengeance without mercy is to be dealt out。 You are the wife
of an American rebel； I cannot promise you your life； or your
honor； if you remain here。 When soldiers are drunk with
blood； and women fall in their way； God have mercy upon them！
I would shield even your rebellious daughter Antonia from such
a fate。 I open the doors of the convent to you all。 There
you will find safety and peace。〃
Isabel sat with white； parted lips and clasped hands；
listening。 Antonia had not moved or spoken。 But with the
last words the priest half…turned to her； and she came swiftly
to her mother's side； and kissing her； whispered：
〃Remember your promise to my father！ Oh； mi madre； do not
leave Isabel and me alone！〃
〃You； too； dear ones！ We will all go together； till these
dreadful days are past。〃
〃No； no； no！ Isabel and I will not go。 We will die rather。〃
〃The Senorita talks like a foolish one。 Listen again！ When
Santa Anna comes for judgment； it will be swift and terrible。
This house and estate will be forfeited。 The faithful Church
may hope righteously to obtain it。 The sisters have long
needed a good home。 The convent will then come to you。 You
will have no shelter but the Church。 Come to her arms
ere her entreaties are turned to commands。〃
〃My husband told me〃
〃Saints of God！ you have no husband。 He has forfeited every
right to advise you。 Consider that； daughter； and if you
trust not my advice； there is yet living your honorable uncle；
the Marquis de Gonzaga。〃
Antonia caught eagerly at this suggestion。 It at least
offered some delay； in which the Senora might be strengthened
to resist the coercion of Fray Ignatius。
〃Mother； it is a good thought。 My great…uncle will tell you
what to do； and my father will not blame you for following his
advice。 Perhaps even he may offer his home。 You are the
child of his sister。〃
Fray Ignatius walked towards the fire…place and stood rubbing
slowly his long； thin hands before the blaze； while the Senora
and her daughters discussed this proposal。 The half…frantic
mother was little inclined to make any further effort to
resist the determined will of her old confessor； but the tears
of Isabel won from her a promise to see her uncle。
〃Then； my daughter； lose no time。 I cannot promise you
many days in which choice will be left you。 Go this
afternoon； and to…morrow I will call for your decision。〃
It was not a visit that the Senora liked to make。 She had
deeply offended her uncle by her marriage； and their
intercourse had since been of the most ceremonious and
infrequent kind。 But surely； at this hour； when she was left
without any one to advise her steps； he would remember the tie
of blood between them。
He received her with more kindness than she had anticipated。
His eyes glittered in their deep sockets when she related her
extremity and the priest's proposal； and his small shrunken
body quivered with excitement as he answered：
〃Saints and angels！ Fray Ignatius is right about Santa Anna。
We shall see that he will make caps for his soldiers out of
the skins of these infidel ingrates。 But as for going into
the convent； I know not。 A miserable marriage you made for
yourself； Maria。 Pardon； if I say so much！ I let the word
slip always。 I was never one to bite my tongue。 I am all old
manvery well； come here； you and your daughters； till
the days of blood are over。 There is room in the house； and
a few comforts in it also。 I have some power with Santa Anna。
He is a great mana great man！ In all his wars； good fortune
flies before him。〃
He kissed her hands as he opened the door； and then went back
to the fire； and bent； muttering； over it： 〃Giver of good！ a
true Yturbide； a gentle woman； she is like my sister
Mercedesvery like her。 These poor women who trust me； as I
am a sinner before God； I am unhappy to deceive them。〃
Fray Ignatius might have divined his thoughts； for he entered
at the moment； and said as he approached him：
〃You have done right。 The soul must be saved； if all is lost。
This is not a time for the friends of the Church and of Mexico
to waver。 The Church is insulted every day by these foreign
heretics〃
〃But you are mistaken； father； the Church holds up her head；
whatever happens。 Even the vice…regal crown is not lostthe
Church has cleft it into mitres。〃
Fray Ignatius smiled； but there was a curious and crafty look
of inquiry on his face。 〃The city is turbulent； Marquis；
and there is undoubtedly a great number of Mexicans opposed to
Santa Anna。〃
〃Do you not know Mexicans yet？ They would be opposed to God
Almighty； rather than confess they were well governed。 Bah！
the genius of Mexico is mutiny。 They scarcely want a leader
to move their madness。 They rebel on any weak pretence。 They
bluster when they are courted； they crouch when they are
oppressed。 They are fools to all the world but themselves。
I beg the Almighty to consider in my favor； that some over…
hasty angel misplaced my lot。 I should have been born inNew
York。〃
The priest knew that he was talking for irritation； but he was
too politic to favor the mood。 He stood on the hearth with
his hands folded behind him； and with a delightful suavity
turned the conversation upon the country rather than the
people。 It was a glorious day in the dawn of spring。 The
tenderest greens； the softest blues； the freshest scents； the
clearest air； the most delightful sunshine were everywhere。
The white old town； with its picturesque crowds； its murmur of
voices and laughter； its echoes of fife and drum； its
loves and its hatreds； was at his feet； and； far off； the hazy
glory of the mountains； the greenness and freshness of
Paradise； the peace and freedom of the vast； unplanted places。
The old marquis was insensibly led to contemplate the whole；
and； in so doing； to put uppermost that pride of country which
was the base of every feeling susceptible to the priest's
influence。
〃Such a pleasant city； Marquis！ Spanish monks founded it。
Spanish and Mexican soldiers have defended it。 Look at its
fine churches and missions； its lovely homes； and blooming
gardens。〃
〃It is also all our own； father。 It was but yesterday I said
to one of those insolent Americans who was condescending to
admire it： ‘Very good； Senor； and； if you deign to believe
me； it was not brought from New York。 Such as you see it； it
was made by ourselves here at San Antonio。' Saints in heaven！
the fellow laughed in my face。 We were mutually convinced of
each other's stupidity。〃
〃Ah； how they envy us the country！ And you； Marquis； who have
traveled over the world； you can imagine the reason？〃
〃Father； I will tell you the reason； it is the craving in the
heart to find again the lost Eden。 The Almighty made Texas
with full hands。 When He sets his heart on a man； he is
permitted to live there。〃
〃Grace of God！ You speak the truth。 Shall we then give up
the gift of His hand to heretics and infidels？〃
〃I cannot imagine it。〃
〃Then every one must do the work he can do。 Some are to slay
the unbelievers； others； are to preserve the children of the
Church。 Your niece and her two daughters will be lost to the
faith； unless you interfere for their salvation。 Of you will
their souls be required。〃
〃By Saint Joseph； it is a duty not in agreement with my
desire！ I； who have carefully abstained from the charge of a
wife and daughters of my own。〃
〃It is but for a day or two； Marquis； until the matter is
arranged。 The convent is the best of all refuges for women so
desolate。〃
The marquis did not answer。 He lifted a book and began to
read； and Fray Ignatius watched him furtively。
In the mean time the Senora had reached her home。 She
was pleased with the result of her visit。 A little kindness
easily imposed upon this childlike woman； and she trusted in
any one who was pleasant to her。
〃You may believe me； Antonia；〃 she said； 〃my uncle was in a
temper most unusual。 He kissed my hands。 He offered me his
protection。 That is a great thing； I assure you。 And your
father cannot object to our removal there。〃
Antonia knew not what answer to make。 Her heart misgave her。
Why had Fray Ignatius made the proposal？ She was sure it was
part of an arrangement； and not a spontaneous suggestion of
the moment。 And she was equally sure that any preconcerted
plan； having Fray Ignatius for its author； must be inimical to
them。
Her mother's entry had not awakened Isabel； who lay asleep
upon a sofa。 The Senora was a little nettled at the
circumstance。 〃She is a very child！ A visit of such
importance！ And she is off to the land of dreams while I am
fatiguing myself！ I wish indeed that she had more
consideration！〃 Then Antonia brought her chocolate； and； as
she drank it and smoked her cigarito； she chatted in an
almost eager way about the persons she had seen。
〃Going towards the Plaza； I met judge Valdez。 I stopped the
carriage； and sent my affections to the Senora。 Would you
believe it？ He answered me as if his mouth were full of snow。
His disagreeable behavior was exactly copied by the Senora
Silvestre and her daughter Esperanza。 Dona