I can almost forgive her now。 Had she worn the French frock
I would not have forgiven her。 I would never have yielded
again； no； not even if the Senorita Antonia should offer me
her scarlet Indian shawl worked in gold。 I was always a
foolHoly Mother forgive me！ Well； then； I used to have my
own loversplenty of themhandsome young arrieros and
rancheros： there was Tadeo； a valento of the first class： and
Buffaandwell； I will sleep； they do not remember me； I
dare say； and I have forgotten their names。〃
In the mean time the sisters sat down beneath a great fig…
tree。 No sunshine； no shower； could penetrate its thick
foliage。 The wide space beneath the spreading branches was a
little parlor； cool and sweet； and full of soft； green lights；
and the earthy smell of turf； and the wandering scents of the
garden。
Isabel's eyes shone with an incomparable light。 She was pale；
but exquisitely beautiful； and even her hands and feet
expressed the idea of expectation。 Antonia had a piece of
needlework in her hand。 She affected the calmness she did
not feel； for her heart was trembling for the tender little
heart beating with so much love and anxiety beside her。
But Isabel's divination； however arrived at； was not at fault。
In a few moments Don Luis lightly leaped the hedge； and
without a moment's hesitation sought the shadow of the fig…
tree。 As he approached； Antonia looked at him with a new
interest。 It was not only that he loved Isabel； but that
Isabel loved him。 She had given him sympathy before； now she
gave him a sister's affection。
〃How handsome he is！〃 she thought。 〃How gallant he looks in
his velvet and silver and embroidered jacket！ And how eager
are his steps！ And how joyful his face！ He is the kind of
Romeo that Shakespeare dreamed about！ Isabel is really an
angel to him。 He would really die for her。 What has this
Spanish knight of the sixteenth century to do in Texas in the
nineteenth century？〃
He answered her mental question in his own charming way。 He
was so happy； so radiantly happy； so persuasive； so
compelling； that Antonia granted him； without a word； the
favor his eyes asked for。 And the lovers hardly heard the
excuse she made； they understood nothing of it； only that she
would be reading in the myrtle walk for one hour； and； by so
doing； would protect them from intrusion。
One whole hour！ Isabel had thought the promise a perfect
magnificence of opportunity｛。？？｝ But how swiftly it went。
Luis had not told her the half of his love and his hopes。 He
had been forced to speak of politics and business； and every
such word was just so many stolen from far sweeter words
words that fell like music from his lips； and were repeated
with infinite power from his eyes。 Low words； that had the
pleading of a thousand voices in them； words full of melody；
thrilling with romance； poetical； and yet real as the sunshine
around them。
In lovers of a colder race； bound by conventional ties； and a
dress rigorously divested of every picturesque element； such
wooing might have appeared ridiculous； but in Don Luis； the
most natural thing about it was its extravagance。 When he
knelt at the feet of his beloved and kissed her hands； the
action was the unavoidable outcome of his temperament。 When
he said to her； 〃Angel mio！ you are the light of my
darkness； the perfume of all flowers that bloom for me； the
love of my loves； my life； my youth； my lyre； my star； had I
a thousand souls with which to love； I would give them all to
you！〃 he believed every word he uttered； and he uttered every
word with the passion of a believer。
He stirred into life also in the heart of Isabel a love as
living as his own。 In that hour she stepped outside all of
her childhood's immaturities。 She became a woman。 She
accepted with joyful tears a woman's lot of love and sorrow。
She said to Antonia：
〃Luis was in my heart before； now； I have put him in my soul。
My soul will never die。 So I shall never forget himnever
cease to love him。〃
Rachela faithfully kept her agreement。 For one hour she was
asleep to all her charge did； and Isabel was in her own room
when the precious sixty minutes were over。 Happy？ So happy
that her soul seemed to have pushed her body aside； as a thing
not to be taken into account。 She sang like a bird for very
gladsomeness。 It was impossible for her to be still； and as
she went about her room with little dancing； balancing
movements of her hands and feet； Antonia knew that they were
keeping their happy rhythmic motion to the melody love sang in
her heart。
And she rejoiced with her little sister； though she was not
free from a certain regret for her concession； for it is the
after…reckoning with conscience that is so disagreeably strict
and uncomfortable。 And yet； why make an element of anger and
suspicion between Isabel and her mother when there appeared to
be no cause to do so？ Don Luis was going away。 He was in
disgrace with his familyalmost disinherited； the country was
on the point of war； and its fortunes might give him some
opportunities no one now foresaw。 But if Isabel's mother had
once declared that she would 〃never sanction the marriage；〃
Antonia knew that； however she might afterwards regret her
haste and prejudice； she would stand passionately by her
decision。 Was it not better； then； to prevent words being
said which might cause sorrow and regret in the future？
But as regarded Isabel's father； no such reason existed。 The
happiness of his children was to him a more sacred thing
than his own prejudices。 He liked Don Luis； and his
friendship with his mother； the Senora Alveda； was a long and
tried one。 The youth's political partialities； though
bringing him at present into disgrace； were such as he himself
had largely helped to form。 Antonia was sure that her father
would sympathize with Isabel； and excuse in her the lapse of
duty which had given his little girl so much happiness。 Yes；
it would be right to tell him every thing； and she did not
fear but Isabel would agree in her decision。
At this moment Rachela entered。 The Senora wished her
daughters to call upon the American manteau…maker for her； and
the ride in the open carriage to the Plaza would enable them
to bow to their acquaintances； and exhibit their last new
dresses from New Orleans。 Rachela was already prepared for
the excursion； and she was not long in attiring Isabel。
〃To be sure； the siesta has made you look charming this
afternoon；〃 she said； looking steadily into the girl's
beaming； blushing face； 〃and this rose silk is enchanting。
Santa Maria； how I pity the officers who will have the
great fortune to see you this afternoon； and break their
hearts for the sight！ But you must not look at them； mark！
I shall tell the Senora if you do。 It is enough if they look
at you。 And the American way of the Senorita Antonia； which
is to bow and smile to every admirer； it will but make more
enchanting the becoming modesty of the high…born Mexicaine。〃
〃Keep your tongue still； Rachela。 Ah！ if you strike me； I
will go to my father。 He will not permit it。 I am not a
child to be struck and scolded； and told when to open and shut
my eyes。 I shall do as my sister does； and the Holy Mother
herself will be satisfied with me！〃
〃Chito！ Chito！！ You wicked one！ Oh； Maria Santissima； cast
on this child a look of compassion！ The American last night
has bewitched her！ I said that he looked like a Jew。〃
〃I am not wicked； Rachela； and gracias a Dios； there is no
Inquisition now to put the question！〃
Isabel was in a great passion； or the awful word that had
made lips parch and blanch to utter it for generations would
never have been launched at the offending woman's head。 But
its effect was magical。 Rachela put up her hands palm
outwards； as if to shield herself from a blow； and then
without another word stooped down and tied the satin sandals
on Isabel's restless feet。 She was muttering prayers during
the whole action； for Isabel had been quick to perceive her
advantage； and was following it up by a defiant little
monologue of rebellious speeches。
In the midst of this scene； Antonia entered。 She was dressed
for the carriage； and the carriage stood at the door waiting；
but her face was full of fear； and she said； hurriedly：
〃Rachela； can you not make some excuse to my mother which will
permit us to remain at home？ Hark！ There is something wrong
in the city。〃
In a moment the three women were on the balcony； intently；
anxiously listening。 Then they were aware of a strange
confusion in the subtle； amber atmosphere。 It was as if they
heard the noise of battle afar off； and Rachela； without a
word； glided away to the Senora。 Isabel and Antonia stood
hand in hand； listening to the vague trouble and the echo of
harsh； grating voices； mingled with the blare of clarions； the
roll of drums； and the rattle of scattering rifle…shots。 Yet
the noises were so blended together； so indistinct； so
strangely expressive of both laughter and defiance； that it
was impossible to identify or describe them。
Suddenly a horseman came at a rapid pace towards the house；
and Anto