remember the alamo-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　meal。　　Her　scarlet　petticoat　was　gorgeous；　her　bodice
white　as　snow；　her　hair　glossy　as　a　bird's　wing；　but　her　lips
drooped　and　trembled；　and　there　was　the　shadow　of　tears　in　her
eyes。　　Antonia　kissed　their　white　fringed　lids；　held
the　little　form　close　in　her　arms；　and　fluttered　about　in　that
motherly　way　which　Isabel　had　learned　to　demand　and　enjoy。

〃What　has　grieved　you　this　morning；　little　dove？〃

〃It　is　Tia　Rachela；　as　usual。　　The　cross　old　woman！　　She　is
going　to　tell　mi　madre　something。　　Antonia；　you　must　make　her
keep　her　tongue　between　her　teeth。　　I　promised　her　to　confess
to　Fray　Ignatius；　and　she　said　I　must　also　tell　mi　madre。　　I
vowed　to　say　twenty　Hail　Marias　and　ten　Glorias；　and　she　said
‘I　ought　to　go　back　to　the　convent。'〃

〃But　what　dreadful　thing　have　you　been　doing；　Iza？〃

Iza　blushed　and　looked　into　her　chocolate　cup；　as　she　answered
slowly：　　〃I　gaveafloweraway。　　Only　a　suchil　flower；
Antonia；　thatIworeatmybreastlastnight。〃

〃Whom　did　you　give　it　to；　Iza？〃

Iza　hesitated；　moved　her　chair　close　to　Antonia；　and　then　hid
her　face　on　her　sister's　breast。

〃But　this　is　serious；　darling。　　Surely　you　did　not　give　it　to
Senor　Houston？〃

〃Could　you　think　I　was　so　silly？　　When　madre　was　talking　to
him　last　night；　and　when　I　was　singing　my　pretty　serenade；　he
heard　nothing　at　all。　　He　was　thinking　his　own　thoughts。〃

〃Not　to　Senor　Houston？　　Who　then？　　Tell　me；　Iza。〃

〃ToDon　Luis。〃

〃Don　Luis！　　But　he　is　not　here。　　He　went　to　the　Colorado。〃

〃How　stupid　are　you；　Antonia！　　In　New　York　they　did　not　teach
you　to　put　this　and　that　together。　　As　soon　as　I　saw　Senor
Houston；　I　said　to　myself：　　‘Don　Luis　was　going　to　him；　very
likely　they　have　met　each　other　on　the　road；　very　likely　Don
Luis　is　back　in　San　Antonio。　　He　would　not　want　to　go　away
without　bidding　me　good…by；'　and；　of　course；　I　was　right。〃

〃But　when　did　you　see　him　last　night？　　You　never　left　the
room。〃

So　many　things　are　possible。　　My　heart　said　to　me　when　the
talk　was　going　on；　‘Don　Luis　is　waiting　under　the　oleanders；'
and　I　walked　on　to　the　balcony　and　there　he　was；　and　he　looked
so　sad；　and　I　dropped　my　suchil　flower　to　him；　and　Rachela
saw　me；　for　I　think　she　has　a　million　eyes；and　that　is　the
whole　matter。〃

〃But　why　did　not　Don　Luis　come　in？〃

〃Mi　madre　forbade　me　to　speak　to　him。　　That　is　the　fault　of
the　Valdez's。〃

〃Then　you　disobeyed　mi　madre；　and　you　know　what　Fray　Ignatius
and　the　Sisters　have　taught　you　about　the　fourth　command。〃

〃Oh；　indeed；　I　did　not　think　of　the　fourth　command！　　A　sin
without　intention　has　not　penance；　and　consider；　Antonia；　I　am
now　sixteen；　and　they　would　shut　me　up　like　a　chicken　in　its
shell。　　Antonia；　sweet　Antonia；　speak　to　Rachela；　and　make
your　little　Iza　happy。　　Fear　is　so　bad　for　me。　　See；　I　do　not
even　care　for　my　cakes　and　honey　this　morning。

〃I　will　give　Rachela　the　blue　silk　kerchief　I　brought　from　New
York。　　She　will　forget　a　great　deal　for　that；　and　then；　Iza；
darling；　you　must　tell　Fray　Ignatius　of　your　sin；　because　it
is　not　good　to　have　an　unconfessed　sin　on　the　soul。〃

〃Antonia；　do　not　say　such　cruel　things。　　I　have　confessed　to
you。　　Fray　Ignatius　will　give　me　a　hard　penance。　　Perhaps　he
may　say　to　mi　madre：　　‘That　child　had　better　go　back　to
the　convent。　　I　say　so；　because　I　have　knowledge。'　　And　now　I
am　tired　of　that　life；　I　am　almost　a　woman；　Antonia；　am　I
not？〃

Antonia　looked　tenderly　into　her　face。　　She　saw　some
inscrutable　change　there。　　All　was　the　same；　and　all　was
different。　　She　did　not　understand　that　it　was　in　the　eyes；
those　lookouts　of　the　soul。　　They　had　lost　the　frank；
inquisitive　stare　of　childhood；　they　were　tender　and　misty；
they　reflected　a　heart　passionate　and　fearful；　in　which　love
was　making　himself　lord　of　all。

Antonia　was　not　without　experience。　　There　was　in　New　York　a
gay；　handsome　youth；　to　whom　her　thoughts　lovingly　turned。　
She　had　promised　to　trust　him；　and　to　wait　for　him；　and
neither　silence　nor　distance　had　weakened　her　faith　or　her
affection。　　Don　Luis　had　also　made　her　understand　how　hard　it
was　to　leave　Isabel；　just　when　he　had　hoped　to　woo　and　win
her。　　He　had　asked　her　to　watch　over　his　beloved；　and　to　say
a　word　in　his　favor　when　all　others　would　be　condemning　him。

Her　sympathy　had　been　almost　a　promise；　and；　indeed；　she
thought　Isabel　could　hardly　have　a　more　suitable　lover。　　He
was　handsome；　gallant；　rich；　and　of　good　morals　and　noble
family。　　They　had　been　much　together　in　their　lives；　their
childish　affection　had　been　permitted；　she　felt　quite　sure
that　the　parents　of　both　had　contemplated　a　stronger　affection
and　a　more　lasting　tie　between　them。

And　evidently　Don　Luis　had　advanced　further　in　his　suit　than
the　Senora　was　aware　of。　　He　had　not　been　able　to　resist　the
charm　of　secretly　wooing　the　fresh　young　girl　he　hoped　to　make
his　wife。　　Their　love　must　be　authorized　and　sanctioned；　true；
he　wished　that；　but　the　charm　of　winning　the　prize　before　it
was　given　was　irresistible。　　Antonia　comprehended　all　without
many　words；　but　she　took　her　sister　into　the　garden；　where
they　could　be　quite　alone；　and　she　sought　the　girl's
confidence　because　she　was　sure　she　could　be　to　her　a　loving
guide。

Isabel　was　ready　enough　to　talk；　and　the　morning　was　conducive
to　confidence。　　They　strolled　slowly　between　the　myrtle　hedges
in　the　sweet　gloom　of　overshadowing　trees；　hearing　only　like
a　faint　musical　confusion　the　mingled　murmur　of　the　city。

〃It　was　just　here；〃　said　Isabel。　　〃I　was　walking　and
sitting　and　doing　nothing　at　all　but　looking　at　the　trees　and
the　birds　and　feeling　happy；　and　Don　Luis　came　to　me。　　He
might　have　come　down　from　the　skies；　I　was　so　astonished。　　And
he　looked　so　handsome；　and　he　said　such　words！　　Oh；　Antonia！
they　went　straight　to　my　heart。〃

〃When　was　this；　dear？〃

〃It　was　in　the　morning。　　I　had　been　to　mass　with　Rachela。　　I
had　said　every　prayer　with　my　whole　heart；　and　Rachela　told　me
I　might　stay　in　the　garden　until　the　sun　grew　hot。　　And　as
soon　as　Rachela　was　gone；　Don　Luis　camecame　just　as　sudden
as　an　angel。〃

〃He　must　have　followed　you　from　mass。〃

〃Perhaps。〃

〃He　should　not　have　done　that。〃

〃If　a　thing　is　delightful；　nobody　should　do　it。　　Luis　said　he
knew　that　it　was　decided　that　we　should　marry；　but　that　he
wanted　me　to　be　his　wife　because　I　loved　him。　　His　face　was
shining　with　joy；　his　eyes　were　like　two　stars；　he　called　me
his　life；　his　adorable　mistress；　his　queen；　and　he　knelt　down
and　took　my　hands　and　kissed　them。　　I　was　too　happy　to　speak。〃

〃Oh；　Iza！〃

〃Very　well；　Antonia！　　It　is　easy　to　say　‘Oh；　Iza'；　but　what
would　you　have　done？　　And　reflect　on　this；　no　one；　not　even
Rachela；　saw　him。　　So　then；　our　angels　were　quite　agreeable
and　willing。　　And　II　was　in　such　joy；　that　I　went　straight
in　and　told　Holy　Maria　of　my　happiness。　　But　when　a　person　has
not　been　in　love；　how　can　they　know；　and　I　see　that　you　are
going　to　say　as　Sister　Sacrementa　said　to　Lores　Valdez‘You
are　a　wicked　girl；　and　such　things　are　not　to　be　spoken　of！'〃

〃Oh；　my　darling　one；　I　am　not　so　cruel。　　I　think　you　did
nothing　very　wrong；　Iza。　　When　love　comes　into　your　soul；　it
is　like　a　new　life。　　If　it　is　a　pure；　good　love；　it　is　a　kind
of　murder　to　kill　it　in　any　way。〃

〃It　has　just　struck　me；　Antonia；　that　you　may　be　in　love
also。〃

〃When　I　was　in　New　York；　our　brother　Jack　had　a　friend；　and　he
loved　me；　and　I　loved　him。〃

〃But　did　grandmamma　let　him　talk　to　you？〃

〃He　came　every　night。　　We　went　walking　and　driving。　　In　the
summer　we　sailed　upon　the　river；　in　the　winter　we　skated　upon
the　ice。　　He　helped　me　with　my　lessons。　　He　went　with　me
to　church。〃

〃And　was　grandmamma　with　you？〃

〃Very　seldom。　　Often　Jack　was　with　us；　more　often　we　were
quite　alone。〃

〃Holy　Virgin！　　Who　ever　heard　tell　of　such　good　fortune？　
Consuelo　Ladrello　had　never　been　an　hour　alone　with　Don
Domingo　before　they　were　married。〃

〃A　good　girl　does　not　need　a　duenna　to　watch　her；　that　is　what
I　think。　　And　an　American　girl；　pure　and　free；　would　not
suffer　herself　to　be　watched　by　any　woman；　old　or　young。　　Her
lover　comes　boldly　into　her　home；　she　is　too　proud；　to　meet
him　in　secret。〃

〃Ah！　that　would　be　a　perfect　joy。　　That　is　what　I　would　like！　
But　fancy　what　Rachela　would　say；　and　mi　madre　would　cover　her
eyes　and　refuse　to　see　me　if　I　said　such　words。　　Believe　this。　
It　was　in　the　spring　Luis　told　me　that　he　loved　me；　and　though
I　have　seen　him　often　since；　he　has　never　found　another　moment
to　speak　to　me　alone；　not　for　one　five　minutes。　　Oh；　Antonia！
let　me　have　one　five　minutes　this　afternoon！　　He　is　going
away；　and　there　is　to　be　war；　and　I　may　never；　never　see
him　again！〃

〃Do　not　weep；　little　dove。　　How　can　you　see　him　this
afternoon？〃

〃He　will　be　here；　in　this　very　place；　I　know　he　will。　　When　he
put　the　suchil　flower　to　his　lips　last　night　he　made　me
understand　it。　　This　afternoon；　during　the　hour　of　siesta；
will　you　come　with　me？　　Only　for　five　minutes；　Antonia！　　You
can　manage　Rachela；　I　am　sure　you　can。〃

〃I　can　manage　Rachela；　and　you　shall　have　one　whole　hour；　Iza。　
One　whole　hour！　　Come；　now；　we　must　make　a　visit　to　our
mother。　　She　will　be　wondering　at　our　delay。〃

The　Senora　had　not　yet　risen。　　She　had　taken　her　chocolate　and
smoked　her　cigarito；　but　was　still　drowsing。　　〃I　have　had　a
bad　night；　children；〃　she　said　　full　of　dreadful　dreams。　　It
must　have　been　that　American。　　Yet；　Holy　Mother；　how　handsome
he　is！　　And　I　assure　you　that　he　has　the　good　manners　of　a
courtier。　　Still；　it　was　an　imprudence；　and　Senora　Valdez　will
make　some　great　thing　of　it。〃

〃You　were　in　your　own　house；　mother。　　What　has　Senora　Valdez
to　do　with　the　guest　in　it？　　We　might　as　well　make　some
great　thing　about　Captain　Morello　being　present　at　her　party。〃

〃I　have　to　say　to　you；　Antonia；　that　Morello　is　a　Castilian；
his　family　is　without　a　cross。　　He　has　the　parchments　of　his
noble　ancestry　to　show。〃

And　Senor　Houston　is　an　AmericanScotch…American；　he　said；
last　night。　　Pardon；　my　mother；　but　do　you　know　what　the　men
of　Scotland　are？〃

〃Si！；　　They　are　monsters！　　Fray　Ignatius　has　told　me。　　They
are　heretics　of　the　worst　kind。　　It　is　their　special　delight
to　put　to　death　good　Catholic　priests。　　I　saw　that　in　a　book；
it　must　be　true。〃

〃Oh；　no；　mother！　　It　is　not　true！　　It　is　mere　nonsense。　
Scotchmen　do　not　molest　priests；　women；　and　children。　　They
are　the　greatest　fighters　in　the　world。〃

〃Quien　sabe？　　Who　has　taught　you　so　much　about　these　savages？〃

〃Indeed；　mother；　they　are　not　savages。　　They　are　a　very
learned　race　of　men；　and　very　pious　also。　　Jack　has　many
Scotch…American　friends。　　I　know　one　of　them　very　well〃；　and
with　the　last　words　her　face　flushed；　and　her　voice　fell
insensibly　into　slow　and　soft　inflections。

〃Jack　knows　many　of　them！　　That　is　likely。　　Your　father　would
send　him　to　New　York。　　All　kinds　of　men　are　in　New　York。　　Fray
Ignatius　says　they　have　to　keep　an　army　of　police　there。　　No
wonder！　　And　my　son　is　so　full　of　nobilities；　so　generous；　so
honorable；　he　will　not　keep　himself　exclusive。　　He　is　the　true
resemblance　of　my　brother　Don　Juan　Flores。　　Juan　was　always
pitying　the　poor　and　making　friends　with　those　beneath　h