remember the alamo-第19章
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sprinkled with suns and worlds。 Suddenly into the tranquil
spaces there was flung a sound of joy and revelry； and the
girls stepped to a lattice at the end of the corridor and
looked out。
The residencia of Don Salvo Valasco was clearly visible from
this site。 They saw that it was illuminated throughout。
Lovely women； shining with jewels； and soldiers in scarlet and
gold； were chatting through the graceful movements of the
danza； or executing the more brilliant Jota Aragonesa。 The
misty beauty of white lace mantillas； the glitter and color of
fans and festival dresses； made a moving picture of great
beauty。
And as they watched it there was a cessation of the dance；
followed by the rapid sweep of a powerful hand over the
strings of a guitar。 Then a group of officers stepped
together； and a great wave of melodious song； solemn and
triumphant； thrilled the night。 It was the national hymn。
Antonia and Isabel knew it。 Every word beat upon their
hearts。 The power of association； the charm of a stately；
fervent melody was upon them。
〃It is Senor Higadillos who leads；〃 whispered Isabel； as a
resonant voice； powerful and sweet； cried
〃O list to the summons！ The blood of our sires；
Boils high in our veins； and to vengeance inspires！
Who bows to the yoke？ who bends to the blow？〃
and； without a moment's hesitation； the answer came in a
chorus of enthusiastic cadences
〃No hero will bend； no Mexican bow；
Our country in tears sends her sons to the fight；
To conquer； or die； for our land and our right。〃
〃You see； the Mexicans think THEY are in the rightTHEY
are patriots also； Antonia。〃
The sorrowful girl spoke like a puzzled child； fretfully and
uncertainly； and Antonia led her silently away。 What
could she answer？ And when she remembered the dear fugitive；
riding alone through the midnightriding now for life and
libertyshe could not help the uprising again of that cold
benumbing question〃Is it worth while？〃
CHAPTER VII。
A MEETING AT MIDNIGHT。
〃All faiths are to their own believers just；
For none believe because they will； but must；
The priest continues what the nurse began；
And thus the child imposes on the man。〃
DRYDEN。
〃if he be called upon to face
Some awful moment； to which heaven has joined
Great issues good or bad for humankind；
Is happy as a lover； and attired
With sudden brightness； like a man inspired；
And through the heat of conflict keeps the law
In calmness made； and sees what he foresaw；
Or； if an unexpected call succeed；
Come when it will； is equal to the need。〃
WORDSWORTH。
〃Ah！ love； let us be true
To one another； through the world which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams！〃
The gathering at Don Valasco's was constantly repeated in
various degrees of splendor among the loyal Mexicans of the
city。 They were as fully convinced of the justice of their
cause as the Americans were。 〃They had graciously
permitted Americans to make homes in their country； now they
wanted not only to build heretic churches and sell heretic
bibles； but also to govern Texas after their own fashion。〃
From a Mexican point of view the American settlers were a
godless； atheistical； quarrelsome set of ingrates。 For eaten
bread is soon forgotten； and Mexicans disliked to remember
that their own independence had been won by the aid of the
very men they were now trying to force into subjection。
The two parties were already in array in every house in the
city。 The Senora at variance with her daughters； their Irish
cook quarrelling with their Mexican servants； only represented
a state of things nearly universal。 And after the failure of
the Mexicans at Gonzales to disarm the Americans； the
animosity constantly increased。
In every church； the priestsmore bitter； fierce and
revengeful than either the civil or military powerurged on
the people an exterminating war。 A black flag waved from the
Missions； and fired every heart with an unrelenting vengeance
and hatred。 To slay a heretic was a free pass through the
dolorous pains of purgatory。 For the priesthood foresaw
that the triumph of the American element meant the triumph of
freedom of conscience； and the abolition of their own
despotism。 To them the struggle was one involving all the
privileges of their order； and they urged on the fight with
passionate denunciations of the foe； and with magnificent
promises of spiritual favors and blessings。 In the fortress；
the plaza； the houses； the churches； the streets； their fiery
words kept society in a ferment。
But through all this turmoil the small duties of life went on。
Soldiers were parading the streets； and keeping watch on the
flat roofs of the houses； men were solemly｛sic｝ swearing
allegiance to Santa Anna； or flying by night to the camp of
the Americans； life and death were held at a pin's fee； but
eating and dressing； dancing and flirting were pursued with an
eagerness typical of pleasure caught in the passing。
And every hour these elements gathered intensity。 The always
restless populace of San Antonio was at a feverish point of
impatience。 They wanted the war at their own doors。 They
wanted the quarrel fought out on their own streets。
Business took a secondary place。 Men fingered weapons and
dreamed of blood； until the temper of the town was as
boisterous and vehement as the temper of the amphitheatre when
impatiently waiting for the bulls and the matadores。
Nor was it possible for Antonia to lock the door upon this
pervading spirit。 After Doctor Worth's flight； it became
necessary for her to assume control over the household。 She
had promised him to do so； and she was resolved； in spite of
all opposition； to follow out his instructions。 But it was by
no means an easy task。
Fray Ignatius had both the Senora and Rachela completely under
his subjection。 Molly； the Irish cook； was already
dissatisfied。 The doctor had saved her life and given her a
good home and generous wages； and while the doctor was happy
and prosperous Molly was accordingly grateful。 But a few
words from the priest set affairs in a far pleasanter light to
her。 She was a true Catholic； the saints sent the heretic
doctor to help。 It was therefore the saints to whom gratitude
was due。 Had she not earned her good wage？ And would not
Don Angel Sandoval give her a still larger sum？ Or even
the Brothers at the Mission of San Jose？ Molly listened to
these words with a complacent pleasure。 She reflected that it
would be much more agreeable to her to be where she could
entirely forget that she had ever been hungry and friendless；
and lying at death's door。
Antonia knew also that Rachela was at heart unfaithful； and
soon the conviction was forced on her that servants are never
faithful beyond the line of their own interestthat it is；
indeed； against certain primary laws of nature to expect it。
Certainly； it was impossible to doubt that there was in all
their dependents a kind of satisfaction in their misfortunes。
The doctor had done them favorshow unpleasant was their
memory！ The Senora had offended them by the splendor of her
dress； and her complacent air of happiness。 Antonia's
American ways and her habit of sitting for hours with a book
in her hand were a great irritation。
〃She wishes to be thought wiser than other womenas wise as
even a holy priestSHE！ that never goes to mass； and is
nearly a heretic；〃 said the house steward； and as for the
Senorita Isabel； a little trouble will be good for her！ Holy
Mary！ the way she has been pampered and petted！ It is an
absurdity。 ‘Little dear；' and ‘angel；' are the hardest words
she hears。 Si！ if God did not mercifully abate a little the
rich they would grow to be ‘almightys。'〃
This was the tone of the conversation of the servants of the
household。 It was not an unnatural tone； but it was a very
unhappy one。 People cannot escape from the mood of mind they
habitually indulge； and from the animus of the words they
habitually use； and Antonia felt and understood the
antagonistic atmosphere。 For the things which we know best of
all are precise
