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！
vernor to yield to his other demands； that California might be rid of him the sooner。
Father Abella was walking down the long outer corridor of the Mission reading his breviary； and praying he might not be diverted from righteousness by the comforting touch of his new habit； when he looked up and saw the party from the presidio floundering over the last of the sand hills。 He shuffled off to order refreshments； and returned in time to disburden the carreta of Dona Ignaciano mean featvolubly delighted in the visit and the gossip it portended。 But as he offered his arm to lead her into the sala； she pushed him aside and pointed to Concha； who had sprung to the ground unassisted。
〃She has come to confess； padre！〃 she exclaimed； her mind； under the deep tiled roof of the corridor； readjusting itself to tragedy。 〃I beg that you will take her at once。 Padre Landaeta can give us chocolate and we will tell our terrible news to him and receive advice and consolation。〃
Father Abella； not without a glimmering of the truth； for better than any one he understood the girl he had confessed many times； besides himself having succumbed to the Russian； led the way to the confessional in some perturbation of spirit。 He walked slowly； hoping that the long； cool church； its narrow high windows admitting so scant a meed of sunlight that no one of its worshippers had ever read the legends on the walls； and even the stations were but deeper bits of shade； would attune her mind to holy things； and throw a mantle of un… reality over those of the world。
He covered his face with his hand as she told her story。 This she did in a few words； disjointed； for she was both tired and seething。 For a few mo… ments afterward there was a silence； the good priest was increasingly disturbed and by no means certain of his course。 He was astonished to feel a tug at his sleeve。 Before he could reprove this impenitent child for audacity she had raised herself that she might approach her lips more closely to his ear。
〃Mi padre！〃 she whispered hoarsely； 〃you will take my part！ You will not condemn me to a life of misery！ I am too proud to speak openly to others but I love this man more than my soulmore than my immortal soul。 Do you hear？ I am in danger of mortal sin。 Perhaps I am already in that state。 You cannot save me if he goes。 I will not pray。 I will not come to the church。 I will be an outcast。 If I marry him； I will be a good Catholic to the end of my days。 If I marry him I can think of other things besidesof my church； my father； my mother； my sisters； brothers。 If he goes； I shall pass my life thinking of nothing but him； and if it be true that heretics are doomed to hell； then I will live so that I may go to hell with him。〃
In spite of his horror the priest was thrilled by the intense passion in the voice so close to his ear。 Moreover； he knew women well； this good padre； for even in California they differed little from those that played ball with the world。 So he dismissed the horror and spoke soothingly。
〃What you have said would be mortal sin； my daughter； were it not that you are laboring under strong and natural excitement； and I shall absolve you freely when you have done the penance I must impose。 You have always been such a good child that I am able to forgive you even in this terrible moment。 But； my daughter； surely you know that this marriage can never take place〃
〃It shall！ It shall！〃
〃Control yourself； my daughter。 You cannot bring this man into the true church。 His character is long since formed and castit is iron。 Even love will not melt it。 Were he younger〃
〃I should hate him。 All young men are insuffer… able to mealways have been。 I have found my mate； and have him I will if I have to hide in the hold of his ship。 Ah； padre mio； I know not what I say。 But you will help me。 Only you can。 My father thinks you as wise as a saint。 And there are other thingsmy head turns roundI can hardly thinkbut you dare not lose the friendship of this Russian。 And my marriage to him would be as much for the good of the Missions as for Cali… fornia herself。 Champion our course； point out that not only would it be a great match for me； but that many ends would be lost by ruining my life。 The Governor will find himself in a position to grant your prayers for the cargo； particularly if you first persuaded my fatherso long they have been friends； the Governor could not resist if he joined our forces。 What is one girl that she should be held of greater account than the welfare of this country to which you are devoting your life？ The happier are your converts； the more kindly will they take to Christianitywhich they do not love as yet！the more faithful and contented will they be； in the prospect of the luxuries and the toys and the trinkets of the Russian north。 What is one girl against the friendship of Russia for Spain？ Who am I that I should weigh a peseta in the scale？〃
〃You are Concha Arguello； the flower of all the maidens in California； and the daughter of the best of our men；〃 replied Father Abella musingly。 〃And until to…day there has been no Catholic more de… vout〃
〃It lies with you； mi padre； whether I continue to be the best of Catholics or become the most abandoned of heretics。 You know me better than anyone。 You know that I will not weaken and bend and submit； like a thousand other women。 I could be badbadbadand I will be！ Do you hear？〃 And she shook his arm violently； while her hoarse voice filled the church。
〃My child！ My child！ I have always believed that you had it in you to become a saint。 Yes； yes； I feel the strength and maturity of your nature； I know the lengths to which it might lead another； but you could not be bad； Conchita。 I have known many women。 In you alone have I perceived the capacity for spiritual exaltation。 You are the stuff of which saints and martyrs are made。 The vio… lent will； the transcendent passionsthey have existed in the greatest of our saints； and been con… quered。〃
〃I will not conquer。 I Oh； padrefor the love of heaven〃
He left the box hastily and lifted her where she had fallen and carried her into the room adjoining the church。 He laid her on the floor； and ran for Dona Ignacia； who； refreshed with wine and chocolate； came swiftly。 But when Concha； under practical administrations and maternal endearments； finally opened her eyes； she pushed her mother coldly aside； rose and steadied herself against the wall for a moment； then returned to the church； closing the door behind her。
When a woman has borne thirteen children in the lost corners of the world； with scarce a thought in thirty years for aught else save the husband and his comforts； it is not to be expected that her wits should be rapiers or her vocabulary distinguished。 But Dona Ignacia's unresting heart had an intelli… gence of its own； and no inner convulsion could alter the superb dignity of mien which Nature had granted her。 As she rose and confronted Father Abella he moved forward with the instinct to kiss her hand； as he had seen Rezanov do。
〃Mi padre；〃 she said； 〃Concha is the first of my children to push me aside； and it is like a blow on the heart； bu