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ian； the en… gagement was as well known as if cried from the Mission top。 The girls were surprised and de… lighted to find Concha sweet rather than proud and envied her with amiable enthusiasm。 The cabal… leros； fewer in number； for most of the men in California at that period before a freer distribution of land were on duty in the army； artfully ignored the unavowed bond； but liked Rezanov when he took the trouble to charm them。
Khostov and Davidov watched the loading of the Juno with a lively regret。 Never had they enjoyed themselves more； nor seen so many pretty girls in one place。 Both had begun by falling in love with Concha； and although they rebounded swiftly from the blow to their hopes； it happily saved them from a more serious dilemma； unwealthed and graceless as they were； they would have been regarded with little favor by the practical California father。 As it was； their pleasures were unpoisoned by regrets or rebuffs。 When they were not flirting in the dance or in front of a lattice； receiving a lesson in Spanish behind the portly back of a duena； or clasping brown little fingers under cover of a fan when all eyes were riveted on the death struggle of a bull and a bear； they were playing cards and drinking in the officers' quarters； which they liked almost as well。 It is true they sometimes paid the price in a cutting rebuke from their chief； but the rebukes were not as frequent as in less toward circumstances； and were generally followed by some fresh indulgence。 This； they uneasily guessed； was not only the result of the equable state of his excellency's temper； but be… cause he had a signal unpleasantness in store； and would not hazard their resignation。 They had taken advantage of an imperial ukase to enter the service of the Russian…American Company tempor… arily； and they knew that if they evaded any be… hest of Rezanov's their adventurous life in the Pa… cific would be over。 Therefore； although they re… sented his implacable will； they pulled with him in outward amity； and indeed there were few of the Juno's human freight that did not look back upon that California springtime as the episode of their lives； commonly stormy or monotonous； in which the golden tide flowed with least alloy。 Even Langsdorff； although impervious to female charms and with scientific thirst unslaked； enjoyed the Spanish fare and the society of the priests。 The sailors received many privileges； attended bull…fights and fandangos； loved and pledged； and were only restrained from emigration to the interior of this enchanted land of pretty girls and plentiful food by the knowledge of the sure and merciless venge… ance of their chief。 Had the rumor of war still held it might have been otherwise； but that raven had flown off to the limbo of its kind； and the Com… mandante let it be known that deserters would be summarily captured and sent in irons to the Juno。
In the mind of Concha Arguello there was never a lingering doubt of the quality of that fortnight between the days of torturing doubts and acute emo… tional upheaval； and the sailing away of Rezanov。 It was true that what he banteringly termed her romantic sadness possessed her at times； but it served as a shadow to throw into sharper relief an almost incredible happiness。 If she seldom saw Rezanov alone there was the less to disturb her； and at least he was never far from her side。 There were always the delight of unexpected moments unseen； whispered words in the crowd； the sense of com… plete understanding； broken now and again by poig… nant attacks of unreasoning jealousy； not only on her part but his； quite worth the reconciliation at the lattice； while Elena Castro； gentle duena； pitched her voice high and amused her husband so well he sought no opportunity for response。
Then there was more than one excursion about the bay on the Juno； dinner on La Bellissima or Nuestra Senora de los Angeles； a long return after sundown that the southerners might appreciate the splendor of the afterglow when the blue of the water was reflected in the lower sky； to melt into the pink fire above； and all the land swam in a pearly mist。
Once the Commandante took twenty of his guests； a gay cavalcade； to his rancho； El Pilar； thirty miles to the south： a long valley flanked by the bay and the eastern mountains on the one hand； and a high range dense with forests of tall thin trees on the other。 But the valley itself was less Californian than any part of the country Rezanov had seen。 Smooth and flat and free of undergrowth and set with at least ten thousand oaks； it looked more like a splendid English park； long preserved； than the recent haunt of naked savages。 There were deer and quail in abundance； here and there an open field of grain。 Long beards of pale green moss waved from the white oaks； wild flowers； golden red and pale blue； burst underfoot。 There were hedges of sweet briar； acres of lupins； purple and yellow。 Al… together the ideal estate of a nobleman； and Reza… nov； who had liked nothing in California so well； gave his imagination rein and saw the counterpart of the castle of his ancestors rise in the deep shade of the trees。
Don Jose's house was a long rambling adobe； red tiled； with many bedrooms and one immense hall。 Beyond were a chapel and a dozen outbuildings。 Dinner was served in patriarchal style in the hall； the Commandanteor El padrone as he was known hereand his guests at the upper end of the table； below the salt； the vaqueros； their wives and chil… dren； and the humble friar who drove them to prayer night and morning。 The friar wore his brown robes； the vaqueros their black and silver and red in honor of the company； their women glar… ing handkerchiefs of green or red or yellow about their necks； even pinned back and front on their shapeless garments； and affording a fine vegetable garden contrast to the delicate flower bed surround… ing the padrone。
There was a race track on the ranch and many fine horses。 After siesta the company mounted fresh steeds and rode off to applaud the feats of the vaqueros； who； not content with climbing the greased pole； wrenching the head of an unfortunate rooster from his buried body as they galloped by； submit… ting the tail of an oiled pig in full flight to the same indignity； gave when these and other native diversions were exhausted； such exhibitions of rid… ing and racing as have never been seen out of Cali… fornia。 As lithe as willow wands； on slender horses as graceful as themselves； they looked like meteors springing through space； and there was no trick of the circus they did not know by instinct； and trans… late from gymnastics into poetry。 Even Rezanov shared the excitement of the shouting； clapping Californians； and Concha laughed delightedly when his cap waved with the sombreros。
〃I think you will make a good Californian in time；〃 she said as they rode homeward。
〃Perhaps；〃 said Rezanov musingly。 His eyes roved over the magnificent estate and at the mo… ment they entered a portion of it that deepened to woods； so dense was the undergrowth； so thick the oak trees。 Here there was but a glimpse； now and again； of the mountains swimming in the dark blue mist of the late afternoon； the moss