man who, by this insurrection, should lament the
loss of her hair. Gertrudis, nevertheless, did not fail to reproach
herself, for indulging in this moment of selfish happiness.

"_Pobres mujeres_!" (poor women!) exclaimed she, as she drew her
fingers through the ebony locks that already replaced the long luxuriant
tresses she had sacrificed. "_Pobres mujeres_! They have not had, as
I, the good fortune to make the sacrifice for the life of those they
loved."

After this occurrence, months passed, without her receiving any news of
Don Rafael; and her cheek, gradually growing paler, with the blue
circles darkening around her eyes, bore witness to the mental torment
she was enduring.

For the long period of two years this agony continued--the young girl in
vain endeavouring to stifle the passion that was devouring her life.
Both spirit and body, enfeebled by solitude, by silence, and the
sedentary character of the life she now led, had not the strength to
continue the struggle much longer.

Don Rafael had the advantage in this respect. He carried his grief from
one end of the kingdom to the other; and the constant change of scene,
along with the distraction caused by the excitement of battles, were to
him a species of relief.

Such advantages were wanting to Gertrudis. Happily, however, God has
granted to woman, in a large degree, the virtue of resignation--often
her sole defence against sorrow.

Gertrudis made no complaint, but suffered in silence--concealing, as
well as she could, the dark chagrin that was consuming her. In long
sleepless nights, when resignation appeared as if it would soon succumb,
a feeble ray of hope would sometimes break upon her spirit, and for the
moment restore its equanimity.

It was then she thought of her first resource--that which she intended
to make use of when her power of resistance should be gone--that supreme
resource that still existed in the tress of hair she had so carefully
cherished and preserved.

The sending back to Don Rafael his horse had already cost her a pang.
It had been a step on her part towards compromising the strife between
her love and pride. Still more painful would it be to resort to that
last measure, and avail herself of the permission, alas! so
prophetically asked for.

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.

TOPOGRAPHICAL DETAILS.

In proportion as the insurrection spread through the province of Oajaca
did the Royalists increase their watchfulness in the