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… don； Excellencywithout the blessing of the Pope； not only would no priest in California perform the ceremony until it arrived； but it would mean the degradation of Governor Arrillaga and myself； and the ruin of all your other hopes。 We should be ordered summarily to Mexico； perhaps worse； and no Russian would ever be permitted to set foot in the Californias again。 I would it were otherwise。 I knowI knowbut it is inevitable。 Your excel… lency must see it。 Even were you a Catholic； Gov… ernor Arrillaga and the President of the Missions； at least； would not dare to countenance this mar… riage without the consent of the King。〃
Rezanov was silent for a few minutes。 In spite of the emotions of the past few days he was aston… ished at the depth and keenness of his disappoint… ment。 But never yet had he failed to realize when he was beaten； nor to trim his sails without loss of precious time。
〃Very well；〃 he said。 〃I will go to St。 Peters… burg at the earliest possible moment； obtain personal letters from the Tsar and proceed post haste to Rome and Madrid。 At the same time I shall arrange for the treaty with full authority from the Tsar。 Then I shall sail from Spain to Mexico and reach here as soon as may be。 It will take a long while； the best part of two years； but I have your word〃
〃You have；〃 the three asserted with solemn em… phasis。
〃Very well。 But there is one thing more。 I am not in a diplomatic humor。 My Sitkans are starv… ing。 I must leave here with a shipload of bread… stuffs。〃
Again the Governor drew up his slim soldierly figure； deposited his cigarette on the malachite ash tray。 〃You may be sure that we have given that momentous question our deepest consideration。 Father Abella's suggestion that we buy your com… modities for cash； and that with our Spanish dol… lars you buy again of us； did not strike me favor… ably at first； for it savored of sophistry。 I may have failed in every attempt to benefit and advance this Godforsaken country； but at least I have been the honest agent of my King。 But the circumstances are extraordinary。 You are about to become one of us； to do our unhappy colony the greatest service that is in the power of any mortal； and personally you have inspired us with affection and respect。 I have； therefore； decided that the exchange shall be made on these terms； but that your cargo shall be received by Don Jose Arguello； Commandante of the San Francisco Company； and held in trust until the formal consent of the King to the purchase shall arrive。〃
Rezanov glowed to his finger tips。 Not even the assurance of his union with the woman of his heart； which after all had met but the skeleton of his de… sires； gave him the acute satisfaction of this sud… den fulfilment of his self…imposed mission。 He dropped his own official demeanor and throwing himself across the table gripped the Governor's hand while he poured out his thanks in a voice thick with feeling； his eyes glittering with more than vic… tory。 He did not lose sight of his ultimate designs and pledge himself to external friendship； but he un… wittingly conveyed the impression that Spain had that day made a friend she ill could afford to lose； and his three visitors rose well pleased with the cul… mination of the interview。
〃You must stay here no longer； Rezanov；〃 said Don Jose； as they were taking leave。 〃My house is now literally your own。 It will be some weeks be… fore the large quantities of corn and flour and other stores you wish can be got togetherfor we must lay a requisition on the fertile Mission ranchos in the valleysand you will exchange these narrow quarters for such poor comfort as my house affords I take no denial。 Concha will remain at Juan Moraga's for the present。〃
XXI
Concha； after her father left her； sat for a long while in an attitude of such complete repose that Sturgis； watching her miserably from the veranda； remembered the consolations of his sketch book； and he was able to counterfeit the graceful； proud figure； under the wall and roses； before she stirred。
Concha had sent her father away deeply puzzled。 When； after embracing her with unusual emotion； he had informed her of his consent to her marriage； she had received the news as a matter of course； her hopes and desires having mounted too high to contemplate a fall。 Then the Commandante； after dwelling at some length upon his discussions with the Governor and the priests； and admonishing her against conceiving herself too important a factor in what might prove to be an alliance of international moment （she had laughed merrily and called him the most callous of parents and subtlest of diplo… mats）； had announced with some trepidation and his most official manner that the consent of the Pope and the King would be sought by Rezanov in per… son； involving a delay and separation of not less than two years。 But to his surprise she did not fling herself upon his neck with blandishments and tears。 She merely became quite still； her light high spirits retreating as a breeze might before one of Nature's sudden and portentous calms。 Don Jose； after a fruitless attempt to recapture her interest； mounted his horse and rode away； and Concha sat down on a bench under the wall and thought for an hour without moving a finger。
Her first sensation was one of bitter anger and disappointment with Rezanov。 He had； apparently； in the first brief interview with their tribunal； given his consent to this long delay of their nuptials。
Her thoughts since his advent had flown on many journeys and known little rest。 She had been rudely awakened and stripped of her girlish illusions in those days and nights of battle between pride and her dazzled womanhood when； in the new humility of love； she believed herself to be but one of a hun… dred pretty girls in the eyes of this accomplished and fortunate Russian。 The interval had been brief； but not long enough for the grandeur in her nature to awaken almost concurrently with her passions； and she had planned a life； in which； guided and uplifted by the star of fidelity； and delivered from the friv… olous and commonplace temptations of other wom… en； she should devote herself to the improvement and instruction not only of the Indians but of the youth of her own class。 The schools founded by the estimable and enterprising Borica had practically disappeared； and she was by far the best educated woman in California。 For such there was a mani… fest and an inexorable duty。 She would live to be old； she supposed； like all the Arguellos and Moragas； but hidden in her unspotted soul would be the flame of eternal youth； fed by an ideal and a memory that would outlive her weary； insignifi… cant body。 And in it she would find her courage and her inspiration； as well as an unwasting sym… pathy for those she taught。
Then had come the sudden and passionate woo… ing of Rezanov。 All other ideals and aspirations had fled。 She had alternated between the tragic extremes of bliss and despair。 So completely did the ardor of her nature respond to his； so fierce and primitive was the cry of her ego for its mate； that she cared nothing for the distress of her parents nor the fate of California。 There is n