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ly　as　that。　　It　was　only　a　mood。　　Should　you　not　return　I　should　grieve；　yes；　and　should　I　live　as　long　as　is　common　with　my　race；　still　would　my　heart　remain　young　with　your　image；　and　with　the　fidelity　that　would　be　no　less　a　religion　than　that　of　my　church。　　But　I　should　not　live　a　selfish　life；　or　I　should　be　unworthy　of　my　election　to　experience　a　great　and　eternal　passion。　Memory　and　the　life　of　the　imagination　would　be　my　solace；　possibly　in　time　my　happiness；　but　my　days　I　should　give　to　this　poor　little　world　of　ours；　and　all　that　one　mortal；　and　that　a　woman；　has　to　bestow　upon　a　stranded　and　benighted　people。　　It　may　not　be　much；　but　I　make　you　that　promise；　senor；　that　you　will　not　think　me　a　foolish；　romantic　girl；　unworthy　of　the　great　responsibilities　you　have　offered　me。〃

〃Concha！〃　　He　was　deeply　moved；　and　at　the　same　time　her　words　chilled　him　with　subtle　prophecy；　sank　into　some　unexplored　depth　of　his　consciousness；　meeting　response　as　subtle；　filling　him　with　impatience　at　the　mortality　of　man。　　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　then　took　her　recklessly　in　his　arms。

〃Is　it　possible　you　doubt　I　will　come　back？〃　he　demanded。　　〃My　faith？〃

〃No；　not　that。　　But　such　happiness　seems　to　me　too　great　for　this　life。〃

He　remembered　how　often　he　had　been　close　to　death；　he　knew　that　during　the　greater　part　of　the　next　two　years　he　should　see　the　glimmer　of　the　scythe　oftener　yet。　　For　a　moment　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　felt　the　dark　waters　rise　in　his　soul；　heard　the　jeers　of　the　gods　at　the　vanity　of　mortal　will。　　But　the　blood　ran　strong　and　warm　in　his　veins。　　He　shook　off　the　obsession；　and　smiled　a　little　cynically；　even　as　he　kissed　her。

〃This　is　the　hour　for　romance；　my　dear。　　In　the　years　to　come；　when　you　are　very　prosaically　my　wife　with　a　thousand　duties；　and　grumbling　at　my　exactions；　your　consolation　will　be　the　memory　of　some　moment　like　this；　when　you　were　able　to　feel　romantic　and　sad。　　I　wish　I　could　arrange　for　some　such　set　of　memories　for　myself；　but　I　am　unequal　to　your　divine　melancholy。　　When　I　can…　not　see　you　I　am　cross　and　sulky；　and　just　nowI　am；　wellphilosophically　happy。　　Some　day　I　shall　be　happier；　but　this　is　well　enough。　　And　I　can　har…　bor　no　ugly　presentiments。　　As　I　entered　California　I　was　elated　with　a　sense　of　coming　happiness；　of　future　victories；　and　I　prefer　to　dwell　upon　that；　the　more　particularly　as　in　a　measure　the　prophetic　hint　has　been　fulfilled。　　So　make　the　most　of　the　present。　　I　shall　see　you　daily　during　this　last　precious　fortnight；　for　I　am　determined　this　arrangement　shall　cease；　and　you　must　exorcise　coquetry　and　abet　me　whenever　there　is　a　chance　of　a　word　alone。〃

She　nodded；　but　she　noted　with　a　sigh　that　he　said　no　more　of　sudden　flight。　　She　would　never　have　consented　to　jeopardize　the　least　of　his　inter…　ests；　but　she　fain　would　have　been　besought。　The　experience　she　had　had　of　the　vehemence　and　fire　in　Rezanov　made　her　long　for　his　complete　subjugation　and　the　happiness　it　must　bring　to　her…　self。　　But　as　he　smiled　tenderly　above　her　she　saw　that　his　practical　brain　had　silenced　the　irresponsible　demands　of　love；　and　although　she　did　not　with…　draw　from　his　arms　she　stiffened　her　head。

〃I　fancy　I　shall　return　home　to…morrow；〃　she　said。　　〃My　mother　tells　me　that　she　can　live　with…　out　me　no　longer；　and　that　Father　Abella　has　re…　minded　her　that　if　I　stay　in　the　house　of　Elena　Cas…　tro　I　shall　be　as　free　from　gossip　as　here。　　I　infer　that　he　has　rated　my　two　parents　for　making　a　martyr　of　me　unnecessarily；　and　told　them　it　was　a　duty　to　enliven　my　life　as　much　as　possible　before　I　enter　upon　this　long　period　of　probation。　　The　grat…　ing　of　my　room　at　Elena's　is　above　a　little　strip　of　Garden；　and　faces　the　blank　wall　of　the　next　house。　Sometimeswho　knows？〃　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders　and　gave　a　gay　little　laugh；　then　stood　very　erect　and　moved　past　him　to　the　door。　　She　had　recognized　the　shuffling　step　of　Father　Abella。

〃Is　supper　ready；　padre　mio？〃　she　asked　sweetly。　〃His　excellency　and　I　have　talked　so　much　that　we　are　very　hungry。〃

〃There　is　no　need　to　deceive　me；〃　said　Father　Abella　dryly。　　〃You　are　not　the　first　lovers　I　have　known；　although　I　will　admit　you　are　by　far　the　most　interesting；　and　for　that　reason　I　have　had　the　wickedness　to　abet　you。　　But　I　fancy　the　good　God　will　forgive　me。　　Come　quickly。　　They　are　scat…　tered　now；　but　will　go　to　the　refectory　in　a　moment　and　miss　you。　　Excellency；　will　you　give　your　arm　to　Dona　Ignacia　and　take　the　seat　at　the　head　of　the　table？　　Concha；　my　child；　I　am　afraid　you　must　console　our　good　Don　Weeliam。　　He　is　having　a　wretched　quarter　of　an　hour；　but　has　loyally　diverted　the　attention　of　your　mother。〃

〃That　is　the　vocation　of　certain　men；〃　said　Con…　cha　lightly。



XXIII

Life　was　very　gay　for　a　fortnight。　　An　hour　after　the　Commandante's　surrender　he　had　despatched　invitations　to　all　the　young　folk　of　the　gente　de　razon　of　Monterey；　Santa　Barbara；　Los　Angeles；　and　San　Diego；　and　to　such　of　the　older　as　would　brave　the　long　journeys。　　The　Monterenos　had　arrived　for　the　Mission　entertainment；　and　during　the　next　few　days　the　rest　poured　over　the　hills：　De　la　Guerras；　Xime'nos；　Estudillos；　Carrillos；　Este'negas；　Morenos；　Cotas；　Estradas；　Picos；　Pachecos；　Lugos；　Orte'gas；　Alvarados；　Bandinis；　Peraltas；　members　of　the　Luis；　Rodriguez；　Lopez　families；　all　of　gentle　blood；　that　made　up　the　society　of　Old　California；　as　gay；　arcadian；　irre…　sponsible；　yet　moral　a　society　as　ever　fluttered　over　this　planet。　　Every　house　in　the　Presidio　and　val…　ley；　every　spare　room　at　the　Mission；　opened　to　them　with　the　exuberant　hospitality　of　the　country。　The　caballeros　had　their　finest　wardrobes　of　col…　lored　silks　and　embroidered　botas；　sombreros　laden　with　silver；　fine　lawn　and　lace；　jewel　and　sash；　vel…　vet　serape　for　the　chill　of　the　late　afternoon。　　The　matrons　brought　their　stiff　robes　of　red　and　yellow　satin；　the　girls　as　many　flowered　silks　and　lawns；　mantillas　and　rebosos；　as　the　family　carretas　would　hold。　　The　square　of　the　Presidio　was　crowded　from　morning　until　midnight　with　the　spirited　horses　of　the　country；　prancing　impatiently　under　the　heavy　Mexican　saddle；　heavier　with　silver；　made　a　trifle　more　endurable　by　the　blanket　of　velvet　or　cloth。　　No　Californian　walked　a　dozen　rods　when　he　had　a　horse　to　carry　him。

But　the　horses　were　not　always　champing　in　the　square。　　There　was　more　than　one　bull…bear　fight；　and　twice　a　week　at　least　they　carried　their　owners　to　the　hills　of　the　Mission　ranch；　or　the　rocky　cliffs　and　gorges　above　Yerba　Buena；　the　Indian　servants　following　with　great　baskets　of　luncheon；　perhaps　roasting　an　ox　whole　in　a　trench。　　This　the　Cali…　fornians　called　barbecue　and　the　picnic　merienda。

There　was　dancing　day　and　night；　the　tinkling　of　guitars；　flirting　of　fans。　　Rezanov　vowed　he　would　not　have　believed　there　were　so　many　fans　and　guitars　in　the　world；　and　suddenly　remembered　he　had　never　seen　Concha　with　either。　　The　lady　of　his　choice　reigned　supreme。　　Many　had　taken　the　long　blistering　journey　for　no　other　purpose　than　to　see　the　famous　beauty　and　her　Russian；　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　roman