conscious silence； which Luis happily ended； by chanting
softly a verse from the hymn of the Three Angels：
〃'WHO LIKE THE LORD？' thunders Michael the Chief。
Raphael； ‘THE CURE OF GOD；' bringeth relief；
And； as at Nazareth； prophet of peace；
Gabriel； ‘THE LIGHT OF GOD；' bringeth release。〃
The noble syllables floated outward and upward； and Antonia
and Lopez softly intoned the last line together； letting them
fall slowly and softly into the sensitive atmosphere。
〃And as for trouble coming from the devil；〃 said Lopez； 〃I
think； Senora； that Fray Ignatius is wrong。 Trouble is not
the worst thing that can come to a man or woman。 On the
contrary； our Lady of Prosperity is said to do； them far
greater harm。 Let me repeat to you what the ever wise Don
Francisco de Quevedo Villegas says about her：
〃'Where is the virtue prosperity has not staggered？ Where the
folly she has not augmented？ She takes no counsel； she
fears no punishment。 She furnishes matter for scandal；
experience； and for story。 How many souls； innocent while
poor； have fallen into sin and impiety as soon as they drank
of the enchanted cup of prosperity？ Men that can bear
prosperity； are for heaven； even wise devils leave them alone。
As for the one who persecuted and beggared job； how foolish
and impertinent he was！ If he had understood humanity； he
would have multiplied his riches； and possessed him of health；
and honors； and pleasures： THAT is the trial it cannot
bear。'〃
〃Oh； to be sure！ Quevedo was a wise man。 But even wise men
don't know everything。 However； WE ARE GOING HOME！ I
thank the saints for this immeasurable favor。 It is a
prosperity that is good for women。 I will stake my Santiguida
on that！ And will you observe that it is Sunday again？ Just
before sunset I heard the vesper bells clearly。 Remember that
we left San Antonio on Sunday also！ I have always heard that
Sunday was a good day to begin a journey on。〃
〃If it had been on a Friday〃
〃Friday！ Indeed； Luis； I would not have gone one hundred
yards upon a Friday。 How can you suppose what is so
inconceivably foolish？〃
〃I think much of the right hour to undertake anything；〃 said
Lopez。 〃The first movements are not in the hands of men； and
we are subject to more influences than we comprehend。 There
is a ripe time for events； as well as for fruits： but the hour
depends upon forces which we cannot control by giving to them
the name of the day； and our sage Quevedo has made a pleasant
mockery thereon。 It is at my lips； if your ears care to hear
it。〃
〃Quevedo； again！ No； it is not proper； Senor。 Every day has
its duties and its favors； Senor。 That man actually said that
fasting on Friday was not a special means of grace！ Quevedo
was almost a heretic。 I have heard Fray Ignatius say so。 He
did not approve of him。〃
〃Mi madre； let us hear what is to be said。 Rachela told me；
I must fast on a Friday； and cut my nails on a Wednesday； and
never cut them on a Sunday； and take medicine on a Monday； and
look after money on Tuesday； and pay calls and give gifts on
Saturday； very well； I do not think much of Rachela； just
suppose； for the passing of the time； that we listen to what
Quevedo says。〃
〃Here are four against me； well； then； proceed； Senor。〃
〃‘On Monday；' says the wise and witty one； buy all that you
can meet with； and take all that is to be had for nothing。 On
Tuesday； receive all that is given you； for it is Mar's day；
and he will look on you with an ill aspect if you refuse the
first proffer and have not a second。 On Wednesday； ask of all
you meet； perhaps Mercury may give some one vanity enough to
grant you something。 Thursday is a good day to believe
nothing that flatterers say。 Friday it is well to shun
creditors。 On Saturday it is well to lie long abed； to walk
at your ease； to eat a good dinner； and to wear comfortable
shoes； because Saturn is old； and loves his ease。'〃
〃And Sunday； Senor？〃
〃Pardon； Senorita Isabel； Sunday comes not into a pasquinade。
Senora； let me tell you that it draws near to eleven。 If we
leave now we shall reach San Antonio in time to say the prayer
of gratitude before the blessed day of the seven is past。〃
〃Holy Mary！ that is what I should desire。 Come； my children；
I thank you； Senor； for such a blessed memory。 My heart is
indeed full of joy and thankfulness。〃
A slight disappointment； however； awaited the Senora。 Without
asking any questions； without taking anything into
consideration； perhaps； indeed； because she feared to ask or
consider； she had assumed that she would immediately re…enter
her own home。 With the unreason of a child； she had insisted
upon expecting that somehow； or by some not explained efforts；
she would find her house precisely as she left it。 Little had
been said of its occupancy by Fray Ignatius and his brothers；
perhaps she did not quite believe in the statement； perhaps
she expected Fray Ignatius to respect the arrangements which
he knew had been so dear to her。
It was therefore a trialindeed； something of a shockwhen
she found they were to be the guests of Navarro； and when it
was made clear to her that her own home had been dismantled
and rearranged and was still in the possession of the Church。
But； with a child's unreason； she had also a sweet ductility
of nature； she was easily persuaded； easily pleased； and
quite ready to console herself with the assurance that it only
needed Doctor Worth's presence and personal influence to drive
away all intruders upon her rights。
In the mean time she was contented。 The finest goods in San
Antonio were sent early on the following morning to her room；
and the selection of three entire wardrobes gave her abundance
of delightful employment。 She almost wept with joy as she
passed the fine lawns and rich silks through her worn fingers。
And when she could cast off forever her garment of heaviness
and of weariful wanderings； and array herself in the splendid
robes which she wore with such grace and pleasure； she was an
honestly grateful woman。
Then she permitted Lopez to let her old acquaintances know of
her presence in her native city； and she was comforted when
she began to receive calls from the Senora Alveda； and judge
and Senora Valdez； and many other of her friends and
associates。 They encouraged her to talk of her sufferings and
her great loss。 Even the judge thought it worth his while；
now； to conciliate the simple little woman。 He had
wisdom enough to perceive that Mexican domination was over；
and that the American influence of Doctor Worth was likely to
be of service to him。
The Senora found herself a heroine； more than that； she became
aware that for some reason those who had once patronized her
were now disposed to pay her a kind of court。 But this did
not lessen her satisfaction； she suspected no motive but real
kindness； for she had that innate rectitude which has always
confidence in the honesty of others。
There was now full reconciliation between Luis and his mother
and uncles； and his betrothal to Isabel was acknowledged with
all the customary rejoicings and complimentary calls and
receptions。 Life quickly began to fall back into its well…
defined grooves； if there was anything unusual； every one made
an effort to pass it by without notice。 The city was
conspicuously in this mind。 American rule was accepted in the
quiescent temper with which men and women accept weather which
may or may not be agreeable； but which is known to be
unavoidable。 Americans were coming by hundreds and by
thousands： and those Mexicans who could not make up their
minds to become Texans； and to assimilate with the new
elements sure to predominate； were quietly breaking up their
homes and transferring their interests across the Rio Grande。
They were not missed； even for a day。 Some American was ready
to step into their place； and the pushing； progressive spirit
of the race was soon evident in the hearty way with which they
set to work； not only to repair what war had destroyed； but to
inaugurate those movements which are always among their first
necessities。 Ministers； physicians； teachers； mechanics of
all kinds； were soon at work； churches were built； Bibles were
publicly sold； or given away； schools were advertised； the
city was changing its tone as easily as a woman changes the
fashion of her dress。 Santa Anna had said truly enough to
Houston； that the Texans had no flag to fight under； but the
young Republic very soon flung her ensign out among those of
the gray nations of the world。 It floated above the twice
glorious Alamo： a bright blue standard； with one white star in
the centre。 It was run up at sunrise one morning。 The
city was watching for it； and when it suddenly flew out in
their sight； it was greeted with the most triumphant
enthusiasm。 The lonely star in its field of blue touched
every heart's chivalry。 It said to them； I stand alone！ I
have no sister states to encourage and help me！ I rely only
on the brave hearts and strong arms that I set me here！〃 And
they answered the silent appeal with a cheer that promised
everything