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〃Mi padre；〃 she said； 〃Concha is the first of my children to push me aside； and it is like a blow on the heart； but I have neither anger nor resentment； for it was not the act of a child to its parent； but of one woman to another。 Alas！ this Russian； what has he done； when her own mother can give her no comfort？ We all love when young； but this is more。 I loved Jose so much I thought I should die when they would have compelled me to marry another。 But this is more。 She will not die； nor even go to bed and weep for days； but it is more。 I should not have died； I know that now； and in time I should have married another； and been as happy as a wom… an can be when the man is kind。 Concha will love but once； and she will suffersuffer She may be more than I； but I bore her and I know。 And she cannot marry him。 A heretic！ I no longer think of the terrible separation。 Were he a Cath… olic I should not think of myself again。 But it cannot be。 Oh； padre； what shall we do？〃
They talked for a long while； and after further consultation with Don Jose and Father Landaeta； it was decided that Concha should remain for the present in the house of Juan Moraga； where she could receive the daily counsels of the priests； and be beyond the reach of Rezanov。 Meanwhile； all influence would be brought to bear upon the Gov… ernor that the Russian might be placated even while made to realize that to loiter longer in California waters would be but a waste of precious time。
XVIII
There was no performance after all in the Presidio square that night； for the bear brought in from the hills to do honor to the Russians died of excitement； and it rained besides。 Rezanov made the storm his excuse for not dining and dancing as usual at the house of the Commandante。 But the relations be… tween the Presidio and the Juno during the next few days were by no means strained。 Davidov and Khostov were always with the Spanish officers； drinking and card playing； or improving their danc… ing and Spanish with the girls； whose guitars were tuned for the waltz day and night。 The dignitaries met as usual and conversed on all topics save those paramount in the minds of each。 Nevertheless； there were three significant facts as well known to Rezanov as had they been aired to his liking。
He had sought an interview with Father Abella； and tactfully ignoring the question of his marriage； had persuaded that astute and influential priest to make the proposition regarding his cargo that Con… cha had suggested。 The priest； backed by his three coadjutors； had made it； and been repulsed with fury。 From another quarter Rezanov learned that during his absence little else was discussed in the house of the Commandante save his formidable mat… rimonial project； and the supposed designs to his country。 Troops had been ordered from the south to reinforce the San Francisco garrisons； and were even now massed at Santa Clara； within a day's march of the bay。
About a mile from the Presidio and almost oppo… site the Juno's anchorage were six great stone tubs sunken in the ground and filled by a spring of clear water。 Here； once a week； the linen； fine and heavy； of Fort and Presidio was washed； the stoutest serving women of households and barracks meeting at dawn and scrubbing for half a day。 Rezanov had watched the bright picture they made for they wore a bit of every hue they could com… mandwith a lazy interest； which quickened to thirst when he heard that they were the most re… liable newsmongers in the country。 In every Pre… sidial district was a similar institution； and the four were known as the 〃Wash Tub Mail。〃 Many of the women were selected by the tyrants of the tubs for their comeliness； and each had a lover in the couriers that went regularly with mail and official instructions from one end of the Californias to the other。 All important news was known first by these women； and much was discussed over the tubs that was long in reaching higher but no less interested circles； and domestic bulletins were as eagerly prized。 The sailor that brought this information to Rezanov was a good…looking and susceptible youth； already the victim of an Indian maiden from the handsome tribe in the Santa Clara Valley； and sister of Dona Ignacia's Malia。 Rezanov furnished him with beads and other trinkets and was at no dis… advantage thereafter。
There was nothing Rezanov would have liked better than to see a Russian fleet sail through the straits； but he also knew that nothing was less likely； and that from such rumors he should only derive further annoyance and delay。 Two of his sailors deserted at the prospect of war； and his hosts； if neutral； were manifestly alert。 Luis and Santiago had been obliged to go to Monterey for a few days； and there was no one at the Presidio in whom Rez… anov could confide either his impatience to see Con… cha or at the adjournment of his more prosaic but no less pressing interests。 These two young men had been with him almost constantly since his arrival； and demonstrated their friendship and even affection unfailingly； but there was no love lost be… tween himself and Gervasio。 This young hidalgo had the hauteur and intense family pride of San… tiago without his younger brother's frank intelli… gence and lingering ingenuousness。 With all the superiority and inferiority； he had made himself so unpopular that his real kindness of heart atoned for his absurdities only with those that knew him best。 Rezanov was not one of these nor aspired to be。 Like all highly seasoned men of the world； he had no patience with the small vanities of the provincial； and although diplomatically courteous to all； in his present precarious position； he had taken too little trouble to conciliate Gervasio to find him of use in the absence of his friends。
At the end of three days Rezanov had forgotten his cargo； and would have sent the Juno to the bot… tom for ten minutes alone with Concha。 He had been on fire with love of her since the moment of his actual surrender； and he was determined to have her if there were no other recourse but elopement。 All his old and intense love of personal freedom had melted out of form in the crucible of his lover's imagination。 That he should have doubted for a moment that Concha was the woman for whom his soul had held itself aloof and unshackled was a matter for contemptuous wonder； and the pride he had taken in his keen and swift perceptive faculties suffered an eclipse。 Mind and soul and body he was a lover； a union unknown before。
On the fourth morning； his patience at an end； he was about to leave the Juno to demand a formal interview with Don Jose when he saw Luis and San… tiago dismount at the beach and enter the canoe al… ways in waiting。 A few moments later they had helped themselves to cigarettes from the gift of the Tsar and were assuring Rezanov of their partisan… ship and approval。
〃We were somewhat taken aback at the first mo… ment；〃 Luis admitted。 〃Butwell； we are both in loveSantiago no less than I； although I have had these six long years of waiting and am likely to have another。 And we love Concha as few men love their sisters； for there is no one like heris it not so； Rezanov？ And we