but she
experienced the emotion and felt all the joy of an adoration, simple and
unquestioned, springing as naturally from the soul as the wild flower
from the prairie.

As she knelt, up rose the sun, and flooded her white figure and her fair
unbound hair with the radiance of the early morning. The matin bells
chimed from the convent and the churches, and the singing birds began to
flutter their bright wings, and praise God also, "in their Latin."

She took her breakfast alone. The Senora never came downstairs so
early. Isabel had wavering inclinations, and generally followed them.
Sometimes, even her father had his cup of strong coffee alone in his
study; so the first meal of the day was usually, as perhaps it ought
to be, a selfishly-silent one. "Too much enthusiasm and chattering at
breakfast, are like too much red at sunrise," the doctor always said;
"a dull, bad day follows it"--and Antonia's observation had turned the
little maxim into a superstition.

In the Senora's room, the precept was either denied, or defied. Antonia
heard the laughter and conversation through the closed door, and easily
divined the subject of it. It was, but natural. The child had a triumph;
one that appealed strongly to her mother's pride and predilections.
It was a pleasant sight to see them in the shaded sunshine exulting
themselves happily in it.

The Senora, plump and still pretty, reclined upon a large gilded bed.
Its splendid silk coverlet and pillows cased in embroidery and lace made
an effective background for her. She leaned with a luxurious indolence
among them, sipping chocolate and smoking a cigarrito. Isabel was on a
couch of the same description. She wore a satin petticoat, and a loose
linen waist richly trimmed with lace. It showed her beautiful shoulders
and arms to perfection. Her hands were folded above her head. Her tiny
feet, shod in satin, were quivering like a bird's wings, as if they were
keeping time with the restlessness of her spirit.

She had large eyes, dark and bright; strong eyebrows, a pale complexion
with a flood of brilliant color in the checks, dazzling even teeth,
and a small, handsome mouth. Her black hair was loose and flowing, and
caressed her cheeks and temples in numberless little curls and tendrils.
Her face was one flush of joy and youth. She had a look half-earnest and
half-childlike, and altogether charming. Antonia adored her, and she
was pleased to listen to the child, telling over again