remember the alamo-第9章
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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 him。
At last he went into the convent of the Bernardines and died
like a very saint。〃
〃I think our Jack will be more likely to die like a very hero。
If there is any thing Jack hates； it is oppression。 He would
right a beggar； if he saw him wronged。〃
〃Poco a poco！ I am tired of rights and wrongs。 Let us talk
a little about our dresses； for there will be a gay winter。
Senora Valdez assured me of it； many soldiers are coming here；
and we shall have parties； and cock…fights； and； perhaps； even
a bull…feast。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Isabel clapping her hands enthusiastically； 〃a
bull…feast！ That is what I long to see！〃
At this moment the doctor entered the room； and Isabel ran to
meet him。 No father could have resisted her pretty ways； her
kisses； her endearments； her coaxing diminutives of speech；
her childlike loveliness and simplicity。
〃What is making you so happy； Queridita？〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Little dear。
〃Mi madre says there is perhaps to be a bullfeast this winter。
Holy Virgin； think of it！ That is the one thing I long to
see！〃
With her clinging arms around him； and her eager face lifted
to his for sympathy； the father could not dash the hope which
he knew in his heart was very unlikely to be realized。
Neither did he think it necessary to express opposition or
disapproval for what had as yet no tangible existence。 So he
answered her with smiles and caresses； and a little quotation
which committed him to nothing：
〃As； Panem et Circenses was the cry
Among the Roman populace of old；
So； Pany Toros！ is the cry of Spain。〃
The Senora smiled appreciatively and put out her hand。
〃Pan y Toros！〃 she repeated。 〃And have you reflected；
children； that no other nation in the world cries it。 Only
Spain and her children！ That is because only men of the
Spanish race are brave enough to fight bulls； and only Spanish
bulls are brave enough to fight men。〃
She was quite pleased with herself for this speech； and
finding no one inclined to dispute the statement； she went on
to describe a festival of bulls she had been present at in the
city of Mexico。 The subject delighted her； and she grew
eloquent over it； and； conscious only of Isabel's shining eyes
and enthusiastic interest； she did not notice the air of
thoughtfulness which had settled over her husband's face； nor
yet Antonia's ill…disguised weariness and anxiety。
On the night of the Valdez's party her father had said he
would talk with her。 Antonia was watching for the confidence；
but not with any great desire。 Her heart and her
intelligence told her it would mean trouble； and she had that
natural feeling of youth which gladly postpones the evil day。
And while her father was silent she believed there were still
possibilities of escape from it。 So she was not sorry
that he again went to his office in the city without any
special word for her。 It was another day stolen from the
uncertain future； for the calm usage of the present； and she
was determined to make happiness in it。
When all was still in the afternoon Isabel came to her。 She
would not put the child to the necessity of again asking her
help。 She rose at once； and said：
〃Sit here； Iza； until I have opened the door for us。 Then she
took a rich silk kerchief； blue as the sky； in her hand； and
went to the wide； matted hall。 There she found Rachela；
asleep on a cane lounge。 Antonia woke her。
〃Rachela； I wish to go into the garden for an hour。〃
The Senorita does the thing she wants to； Rachela would not
presume to interfere。 The Senorita became an Americano in New
York。〃
〃There are good things in New York； Rachela； for instance；
this kerchief。〃
〃That is indeed magnificent！〃
〃If you permit my sister to walk in the garden with me； I
shall give it to you this moment。〃
〃Dona Isabel is different。 She is a Mexicaine。 She must be
watched continually。〃
〃For what reason？ She is as innocent as an angel。〃
〃Let her simply grow up； and you will see that she is not
innocent as the angels。 Oh； indeed！ I could say something
about last night！ Dona Isabel has no vocation for a nun； but；
gracias a Dios！ Rachela is not yet blind or deaf。〃
〃Let the child go with me for an hour； Rachela。 The kerchief
will be so becoming to you。 There is not another in San
Antonio like it。〃
Rachela was past forty； but not yet past the age of coquetry。
〃It will look gorgeous with my gold ear…rings； but〃
〃I will give you also the blue satin bow like it； to wear at
your breast。〃
〃Si； si！ I will give the permission； Senoritafor your sake
alone。 The kerchief and bow are a little thing to you。 To
me； they will be a great adornment。 You are not to leave the
garden； however； and for one hour's walk only； Senorita；
certainly there is time for no more。〃
〃I will take care of Isabel； no harm shall come to her。 You
may keep your eyes shut for one hour； Rachela； and you may
shut your ears also； and put your feet on the couch and let
them rest。 I will watch Isabel carefully； be sure of that。〃
〃The child is very clever； and she has a lover already； I
fear。 Keep your eyes on the myrtle hedge that skirts the
road。 I have to say thisit is not for nothing she wants to
walk with you this afternoon。 She would be better fast
asleep。〃
In a few moments the kerchief and the bow were safely folded
in the capacious pocket of Rachela's apron； and Isabel and
Antonia were softly treading the shady walk between the myrtle
hedges。 Rachela's eyes were apparently fast closed when the
girls pased｛sic｝ her； but she did not fail to notice how
charmingly Isabel had dressed herself。 She wore； it is true；
her Spanish costume； but she had red roses at her breast； and
her white lace mantilla over her head。
〃Ah！ she is a clever little thing！〃 Rachela muttered。 〃She
knows that she is irresistible in her Castilian dress。 Bah！
those French frocks are enough to drive a man a mile away。
I can almost forgive her now。 Had she worn the French frock
I would not have forgiven her。 I would never have yielded
ag
