ntonia,
that--I--wore--at--my--breast--last--night."

"Whom did you give it to, Iza?"

Iza hesitated, moved her chair close to Antonia, and then hid her face
on her sister's breast.

"But this is serious, darling. Surely you did not give it to Senor
Houston?"

"Could you think I was so silly? When madre was talking to him last
night, and when I was singing my pretty serenade, he heard nothing at
all. He was thinking his own thoughts."

"Not to Senor Houston? Who then? Tell me, Iza."

"To--Don Luis."

"Don Luis! But he is not here. He went to the Colorado."

"How stupid are you, Antonia! In New York they did not teach you to
put this and that together. As soon as I saw Senor Houston, I said to
myself: 'Don Luis was going to him; very likely they have met each other
on the road; very likely Don Luis is back in San Antonio. He would
not want to go away without bidding me good-by,' and, of course, I was
right."

"But when did you see him last night? You never left the room."

"So many things are possible. My heart said to me when the talk was going
on, 'Don Luis is waiting under the oleanders,' and I walked on to the
balcony and there he was, and he looked so sad, and I dropped my
suchil flower to him; and Rachela saw me, for I think she has a million
eyes,--and that is the whole matter."

"But why did not Don Luis come in?"

"Mi madre forbade me to speak to him. That is the fault of the
Valdez's."

"Then you disobeyed mi madre, and you know what Fray Ignatius and the
Sisters have taught you about the fourth command."

"Oh, indeed, I did not think of the fourth command! A sin without
intention has not penance; and consider, Antonia, I am now sixteen,
and they would shut me up like a chicken in its shell. Antonia, sweet
Antonia, speak to Rachela, and make your little Iza happy. Fear is so
bad for me. See, I do not even care for my cakes and honey this morning.

"I will give Rachela the blue silk kerchief I brought from New York. She
will forget a great deal for that, and then, Iza, darling, you must tell
Fray Ignatius of your sin, because it is not good to have an unconfessed
sin on the soul."

"Antonia, do not say such cruel things. I have confessed to you. Fray
Ignatius will give me a hard penance. Perhaps he may say to mi madre:
'That child had better go back to the convent. I say so, because I
have knowledge.' And now I am tired of that life; I am almost a woman,
Antonia, am I not?"

Antonia looke