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wise in the moment of victory。 She cast a glance over her fan at
Brace； and turned languidly to Dona Isabel。
〃Mr。 Brace must surely want some refreshment after his long ride。
Why don't you seize this opportunity to show him the garden and let
him select for himself the herbs he requires for that dreadful
American drink； Miss Chubb and your sister will remain with me to
receive the Comandante's secretary and the Doctor when they come。〃
〃She's more than my match；〃 whispered Brace to Dona Isabel； as they
left the corridor together。 〃I give in。 I don't understand her：
she frightens me。〃
〃That is of your conscience！ It is that you would understand the
Dona Leonoryour dear Miss Keenebetter！ Ah！ silence； imbecile！
this Dona Barbara is even as thou arta talking parrot。 She will
have that the Comandante's secretary； Manuel； shall marry Mees
Chubb； and that the Doctor shall marry my sister。 But she knows
not that Manuellisten so that you shall get sick at your heart
and swallow your moustachio！that Manuel loves the beautiful
Leonor； and that Leonor loves not him； but Don Diego； and that my
sister loathes the little Doctor。 And this Dona Barbara； that
makes your liver white； would be a feeder of chickens with such
barley as this！ Ah！ come along！〃
The arrival of the Doctor and the Comandante's secretary created
another diversion； and the pairing off of the two couples indicated
by Dona Isabel for a stroll in the garden； which was now beginning
to recover from the still heat of mid…day。 This left Don Ramon and
Mrs。 Brimmer alone in the corridor； Mrs。 Brimmer's indefinite
languor； generally accepted as some vague aristocratic condition of
mind and body； not permitting her to join them。
There was a moment of dangerous silence； the voices of the young
people were growing fainter in the distance。 Mrs。 Brimmer's eyes；
in the shadow of her fan； were becoming faintly phosphorescent。
Don Ramon's melancholy face； which had grown graver in the last few
moments； approached nearer to her own。
〃You are unhappy； Dona Barbara。 The coming of this young cavalier；
your countryman； revives your anxiety for your home。 You are
thinking of this husband who comes not。 Is it not so？〃
〃I am thinking；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer； with a sudden revulsion of
solid Boston middle…class propriety； shown as much in the dry New
England asperity of voice that stung even through her drawling of
the Castilian speech； as in anything she said；〃I am thinking
that； unless Mr。 Brimmer comes soon； I and Miss Chubb shall have to
abandon the hospitality of your house； Don Ramon。 Without looking
upon myself as a widow； or as indefinitely separated from Mr。
Brimmer； the few words let fall by Mr。 Brace show me what might be
the feelings of my countrymen on the subject。 However charming and
considerate your hospitality has beenand I do not deny that it
has been MOST grateful to MEI feel I cannot continue to accept it
in those equivocal circumstances。 I am speaking to a gentleman
who； with the instincts and chivalrous obligations of his order；
must sympathize with my own delicacy in coming to this conclusion；
and who will not take advantage of my confession that I do it with
pain。〃
She spoke with a dry alacrity and precision so unlike her usual
languor and the suggestions of the costume； and even the fan she
still kept shading her faintly glowing eyes； that the man before
her was more troubled by her manner than her words； which he had
but imperfectly understood。
〃You will leave herethis house？〃 he stammered。
〃It is necessary；〃 she returned。
〃But you shall listen to me first！〃 he said hurriedly。 〃Hear me；
Dona BarbaraI have a secretI will to you confess〃
〃You must confess nothing；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer； dropping her feet
from the hammock； and sitting up primly； 〃I meannothing I may not
hear。〃
The Alcalde cast a look upon her at once blank and imploring。
〃Ah； but you will hear；〃 he said； after a pause。 〃There is a ship
coming here。 In two weeks she will arrive。 None know it but
myself； the Comandante； and the Padre。 It is a secret of the
Government。 She will come at night； she will depart in the
morning； and no one else shall know。 It has ever been that she
brings no one to Todos Santos； that she takes no one from Todos
Santos。 That is the law。 But I swear to you that she shall take
you； your children； and your friend to Acapulco in secret； where
you will be free。 You will join your husband； you will be happy。
I will remain； and I will die。〃
It would have been impossible for any woman but Mrs。 Brimmer to
have regarded the childlike earnestness and melancholy simplicity
of this grown…up man without a pang。 Even this superior woman
experienced a sensible awkwardness as she slipped from the hammock
and regained an upright position。
〃Of course；〃 she； began； 〃your offer is exceedingly generous； and
although I should not； perhaps； take a step of this kind without
the sanction of Mr。 Brimmer； and am not sure that he would not
regard it as rash and premature； I will talk it over with Miss
Chubb； for whom I am partially responsible。 Nothing；〃 she
continued； with a sudden access of feeling； 〃would induce me； for
any selfish consideration； to take any step that would imperil the
future of that child； towards whom I feel as a sister。〃 A slight
suffusion glistened under her pretty brown lashes。 〃If anything
should happen to her； I would never forgive myself； if I should be
the unfortunate means of severing any ties that SHE may have
formed； I could never look her in the face again。 Of course； I can
well understand that our presence here must be onerous to you； and
that you naturally look forward to any sacrificeeven that of the
interests of your country； and the defiance of its lawsto relieve
you from a position so embarrassing as yours has become。 I only
trust； however； that the ill effects you allude to as likely to
occur to yourself after our departure may be exaggerated by your
sensitive nature。 It would be an obligation added to the many that
we owe you； which Mr。 Brimmer would naturally find he could not
returnand that； I can safely say； he would not hear of for a
single moment。〃
While speaking； she had unconsciously laid aside her fan； lifted
her mantilla from her head with both hands； and； drawing it around
her shoulders and under her lifted chin； had crossed it over her
bosom with a certain prim； automatic gesture； as if it had been the
starched kerchief of some remote Puritan ancestress。 With her arms
still unconsciously crossed； she stooped rigidly； picked up her fan
with three fingers； as if it had been a prayer…book； and； with a
slight inclination of her bared head； with its accurately parted
brown hair； passed slowly out of the corridor。
Astounded； bewildered； yet conscious of some vague wound； Don Ramon
remained motionless； staring after her straight； retreating fig