or Apolinaria; busy all day,
sometimes at the roughest toil, she worked with her whole heart, full
of joy because she was busy, and was doing something for the good people
with whom she had found a home. But more than this: the change from her
old shelter in the asylum in the great city to a life in the sweet, wild
new country, beautiful with all that was loveliest in nature, was one
to make a character like Apolinaria expand and grow into a rounded
simplicity of soul and spirit. Father Pujol had heard of Apolinaria's
piety on her coming to Monterey, having a chance, also, of observing it
during her short stay at the mission; and he watched over her with more
than usual interest, instructing her mentally, as occasion offered,
in addition to fostering the religious side of her nature. Apolinaria
attended the school in the town until she was thirteen years old, and
acquired the elements of an education, as much as she could possibly
have any occasion to use in after years in the country whither she was
come for life.

As Apolinaria grew older, and after she had ceased going to school, she
found, even with her accustomed duties in Don Raimundo's home, that she
had much unoccupied time; and with her religious fervor she thought long
on the matter, trying to find in what way she could more completely fill
the place she believed the Holy Virgin had destined for her. But in
vain did she seek for this object; and at length arose slowly in her,
becoming more and more fixed as she dwelt on it, the thought that maybe
she had been mistaken in considering that a life in Nueva California was
meant for her; and with the thought was awakened the longing to return
to Mexico and become a nun. This was during her fifteenth year. A young
girl with her religious habit of mind would, naturally, turn to the
convent, and regard a life spent in it as the worthiest, therefore
the most desirable, to be found in this sinful world; and Apolinaria,
notwithstanding her strength of character, soon became fascinated with
the prospect. She thought long and seriously before saying a word to any
one; for much as she now wished it, she knew it would be painful both to
herself and to the good Carrillos, and she dreaded to disclose her plan.
But at last, believing she had definitely decided that it concerned the
future welfare of her soul, she betook herself to her spiritual adviser,
Father Pujol, and laid her thought before him.

Now Father Pujol was a man