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his life for their sakes。 Antonia was quite as much excited
in her own way； which was naturally a much quieter way； and
Lopez sat under a great pecan…tree； smoking his cigarito with
placid smiles and admiring glances at every one。
As the sun set； the full moon rose as it rises nowhere but
over Texan or Asian plains； golden； glorious； seeming to fill
the whole heaven and the whole earth with an unspeakable
radiance； softly glowing； exquisitely； magically beautifying。
The commonest thing under it was transfigured into something
lovely； fantastic； fairylike。 And the dullest souls swelled
and rose like the tides under its influence。
Antonia took from their stores the best they had； and a
luxurious supper was spread upon the grass。 The meal might
have been one of ten courses； it occupied so long； it provoked
so much mirth； such a rippling stream of reminiscence；
finally； such a sweetly solemn retrospect of the sorrows and
mercies and triumphs of the campaign they had shared together。
This latter feeling soon dominated all others。
The delicious light； the sensuous atmosphere； the white
turrets and towers of the city； shining on the horizon like
some mystical； heavenly city in dreamsthe murmur of its far…
off life； more audible to the spiritual than the natural
earsthe dark figures of the camp servants； lying in groups
or quietly shuffling their cards； were all elements conducive
to a grave yet happy seriousness。
No one intended to sleep。 They were to rest in the moonlight
until the hour of eleven； and then make their last stage。
This night they instinctively kept close together。 The Senora
had mentally reached that point where it was not unpleasant to
talk over troubles； and to amplify especially her own share of
them。
〃But； Holy Maria！〃 she said； 〃how unnecessary are such
sorrows！ I am never； in the least； any better for them。 When
the Divine Majesty condescends to give me the sunshine of
prosperity； I am always exceedingly religious。 On the
contrary when I am in sorrow； I do not feel inclined to pray。
That is precisely natural。 Can the blessed Mother expect
thanks； when she gives her children only suffering and tears？〃
〃God gives us whatever is best for us； dear mother。〃
〃Speak； when you have learned wisdom； Antonia。 I shall always
believe that trouble comes from the devil； indeed； Fray
Ignatius once told me of a holy man that had one grief upon
the heels of the other； and it was the devil who was sent with
all of them。 I have myself no doubt that he opened the gates
of hell for Santa Anna to return to earth and do a little work
for him。〃
〃This thought makes me tremble；〃 said Lopez； 〃souls that have
become angelic； can become evil。 The degraded seraphim； whom
we call the devil； was once the companion of archangels； and
stood with Michael； and Raphael； and Gabriel； in the presence
of the Holy One。 Is there sin in heaven？ Can we be
tempted even there？〃
The inquiry went in different ways to each heart； but no one
answered it。 There were even a few moments of constrained；
conscious silence； which Luis happily ended； by chanting
softly a verse from the hymn of the Three Angels：
〃'WHO LIKE THE LORD？' thunders Michael the Chief。
Raphael； ‘THE CURE OF GOD；' bringeth relief；
And； as at Nazareth； prophet of peace；
Gabriel； ‘THE LIGHT OF GOD；' bringeth release。〃
The noble syllables floated outward and upward； and Antonia
and Lopez softly intoned the last line together； letting them
fall slowly and softly into the sensitive atmosphere。
〃And as for trouble coming from the devil；〃 said Lopez； 〃I
think； Senora； that Fray Ignatius is wrong。 Trouble is not
the worst thing that can come to a man or woman。 On the
contrary； our Lady of Prosperity is said to do； them far
greater harm。 Let me repeat to you what the ever wise Don
Francisco de Quevedo Villegas says about her：
〃'Where is the virtue prosperity has not staggered？ Where the
folly she has not augmented？ She takes no counsel； she
fears no punishment。 She furnishes matter for scandal；
experience； and for story。 How many souls； innocent while
poor； have fallen into sin and impiety as soon as they drank
of the enchanted cup of prosperity？ Men that can bear
prosperity； are for heaven； even wise devils leave them alone。
As for the one who persecuted and beggared job； how foolish
and impertinent he was！ If he had understood humanity； he
would have multiplied his riches； and possessed him of health；
and honors； and pleasures： THAT is the trial it cannot
bear。'〃
〃Oh； to be sure！ Quevedo was a wise man。 But even wise men
don't know everything。 However； WE ARE GOING HOME！ I
thank the saints for this immeasurable favor。 It is a
prosperity that is good for women。 I will stake my Santiguida
on that！ And will you observe that it is Sunday again？ Just
before sunset I heard the vesper bells clearly。 Remember that
we left San Antonio on Sunday also！ I have always heard that
Sunday was a good day to begin a journey on。〃
〃If it had been on a Friday〃
〃Friday！ Indeed； Luis； I would not have gone one hundred
yards upon a Friday。 How can you suppose what is so
inconceivably foolish？〃
〃I think much of the right hour to undertake anything；〃 said
Lopez。 〃The first movements are not in the hands of men； and
we are subject to more influences than we comprehend。 There
is a ripe time for events； as well as for fruits： but the hour
depends upon forces which we cannot control by giving to them
the name of the day； and our sage Quevedo has made a pleasant
mockery thereon。 It is at my lips； if your ears care to hear
it。〃
〃Quevedo； again！ No； it is not proper； Senor。 Every day has
its duties and its favors； Senor。 That man actually said that
fasting on Friday was not a special means of grace！ Quevedo
was almost a heretic。 I have heard Fray Ignatius say so。 He
did not approve of him。〃
〃Mi madre； let us hear what is to be said。 Rachela told me；
I must fast on a Friday； and cut my nails on a Wednesday； and
never cut them on a Sunday； and take medicine on a Monday； and
look after money on Tuesday； and pay calls and give gifts on
Saturday； very well； I do not think much of Rachela； just
suppose； for the passing of the time； that we listen to what
Quevedo says。〃
〃Here are four against me； well； then； proceed； Senor。〃
〃‘On Monday；' says the wise and witty one； buy all that you
can meet with； and take all that is to be had for nothing。 On
Tuesday； receive all that is given you； for it is Mar's day；
and he will look on you with an ill aspect if you refuse the
first proffer and have not a second。 On Wednesday； ask of all
you meet； perhaps Mercury may give some one vanity enough to
grant you something。 Thursday is a good day to believe
nothing that flatterers say。 Friday it is well to shun
creditors。 On Saturday it is well to lie long abed； to walk
at your ease； to eat a good dinner； and to wear comfortable
shoes； because Saturn is old； and loves his ease。'〃
〃And Sunday； Senor？〃
〃Pardon； Senorita Isabel； Sunday comes not into a pasquinade。
Senora； let me tell you that it d