remember the alamo-第4节

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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　the　pretty　things　that　had　been　said　to　her。

〃Only　Don　Luis　was　not　there　at　all；　Antonia。　　There　is　always
something　wanting；〃　and　her　voice　fell　with　those　sad
inflections　that　are　often　only　the　very　excess　of　delight。

The　Senora　looked　sharply　at　her。　　〃Don　Luis　was　not
desirable。　　He　was　better　awaymuch　better！〃

〃But　why？〃

〃Because；　Antonia；　he　is　suspected。　　There　is　an　American
called　Houston。　　Don　Luis　met　him　in　Nacogdoches。　　He　has
given　his　soul　to　him；　I　think。　　He　would　have　fought　Morello
about　him；　if　the　captain　could　have　drawn　his　sword　in　such
a　quarrel。　　I　should　not　have　known　about　the　affair　had　not
Senora　Valdez　told　me。　　Your　father　says　nothing　against　the
Americans。〃

〃Perhaps；　then；　he　knows　nothing　against　them。〃

〃You　will　excuse　me；　Antonia；　not　only　the　living　but　the　dead
must　have　heard　of　their　wickedness。　　They　are　a　nation　of
ingrates。　　Ingrates　are　cowards。　　It　was　these　words　Captain
Morello　said；　when　Don　Luis　drew　his　sword；　made　a　circle
with　its　point　and　stood　it　upright　in　the　centre。　　It　was　a
challenge　to　the　whole　garrigon；　and　about　this　fellow
Houston；　whom　be　calls　his　friend！　　Holy　Virgin　preserve　us
from　such　Mexicans！〃

〃It　is　easier　to　talk　than　to　fight。　　Morello's　tongue　is
sharper　than　his　sword。〃

〃Captain　Morello　was　placing　his　sword　beside　that　of　Don
Luis；　when　the　Commandant　interfered。　　He　would　not　permit　his
officers　to　fight　in　such　a　quarrel。　　‘Santo　Dios！'　he　said；
‘you　shall　all　have　your　opportunity　very　soon；　gentlemen。'　
Just　reflect　upon　the　folly　of　a　boy　like　Don　Luis；
challenging　a　soldier　like　Morello！〃

〃He　was　in　no　danger；　mother；〃　said　Antonia　scornfully。　
〃Morello　is　a　bully；　who　wears　the　　pavement　out　with　his
spurs　and　sabre。　　His　weapons　are　for　show。　　Americans；　at
least；　wear　their　arms　for　use；　and　not　for　ornament。〃

〃Listen；　Antonia！　　I　will　not　have　them　spoken　of。　　They　are
Jewsor　at　least　infidels；　all　of　them！the　devil　himself　is
their　fatherthe　bishop；　when　he　was　here　last　confirmation；
told　me　so。〃

〃Mother！〃

〃At　least　they　are　unbaptized　Christians；　Antonia。　　If　you　are
not　baptized；　the　devil　sends　you　to　do　his　work。　　As　for　Don
Luis；　he　is　a　very　Judas！　　Ah；　Maria　Santissima！　how　I　do　pity
his　good　mother！〃

〃Poor　Don　Luis！〃　said　Isabel　plaintively。

He　is　so　handsome；　and　he　sings　like　a　very　angel。　　And　he
loves　my　father；　he　wanted　to　be　a　doctor；　so　that　he　could
always　be　with　him。　　I　dare　say　this　man　called　Houston　is　no
better　than　a　Jew；　and　perhaps　very　ugly　beside。　　Let　us　talk
no　more　about　him　and　the　Americans。　　I　am　weary　of　them；　as
Tia　Rachella　says；　‘they　have　their　spoon　in　every　one's
mess。'〃

And　　Antonia；　whose　heart　was　burning；　only　stooped　down　and
closed　her　sister's　pretty　mouth　with　a　kiss。　　Her　tongue　was
impatient　to　speak　for　the　father；　and　grandmother；　and　the
friends；　so　dear　to　her；　but　she　possessed　great　discretion；
and　also　a　large　share　of　that　rarest　of　all　womanly　graces；
the　power　under　provocation；　of　〃putting　on　Patience　the
noble。〃


CHAPTER　III。

BUILDERS　OF　THE　COMMONWEALTH。


〃Methinks　I　see　in　my　mind　a　noble　and　puissant　nation　rousing
herself　like　a　strong　man　after　sleep　and　shaking　her
invincible　locks。　　Methinks　I　see　her　as　an　eagle　mewing　her
mighty　youth　and　kindling　her　undazzled　eye　in　the　full　mid…
day　beam。〃MILTON。

〃And　from　these　grounds；　concluding　as　we　doe；
　Warres　causes　diuerse；　so　by　consequence
Diuerse　we　must　conclude　their　natures　too：
　For　war　proceeding　from　Omnipotence；
No　doubt　is　holy；　wise；　and　without　error；
　The　sword；　of　justice　and　of　sin；　the　terror。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LORD　BROOKE。

It　is　the　fashion　now　to　live　for　the　present　but　the　men　of
fifty　years　ago；　the　men　who　builded　the　nation；　they
reverenced　the　past；　and　therefore　they　could　work　for　the
future。　　As　Robert　Worth　rode　through　the　streets　of　San
Antonio　that　afternoon；　he　was　thinking；　not　of　his　own　life；
but　of　his　children's　and　of　the　generations　which　should　come
after　them。

The　city　was　flooded　with　sunshine；　and　crowded　with
a　pack…train　going　to　Sonora；　the　animals　restlessly
protesting　against　the　heat　and　flies；　their　Mexican　drivers
in　the　pulqueria；　spending　their　last　peso　with　their
compadres；　or　with　the　escort　of　soldiers　which　was　to
accompany　thema　little　squad　of　small；　lithe　men；　with
round；　yellow；　beardless　faces；　bearing　in　a　singular　degree
the　stamp　of　being　native　to　the　soil。　　Their　lieutenant；　a
gorgeously　clad　officer　with　a　very　distinguished　air；　was
coming　slowly　down　the　street　to　join　them。　　He　bowed；　and
smiled　pleasantly　to　the　doctor　as　he　passed　him；　and　then　in
a　few　moments　the　word　of　command　and　the　shouting　of　men　and
the　clatter　of　hoofs　invaded　the　enchanted　atmosphere　like　an
insult。

But　the　tumult　scarcely　jarred　with　the　thoughts　of　his　mind。　
They　had　been　altogether　of　war　and　rumors　of　war。　　Every　hour
that　subtile　consciousness　of　coming　events；　which　makes　whole
communities　at　times　prescient；　was　becoming　stronger。　　〃If
the　powers　of　the　air　have　anything　to　do　with　the　destinies
of　men；〃　he　muttered；　〃there　must　be　unseen　battalions　around
me。　　The　air　I　am　breathing　is　charged　with　the　feeling　of
battle。〃

After　leaving　the　city　there　were　only　a　few　Mexican　huts　on
the　shady　road　leading　to　his　own　house。　　All　within　them　were
asleep；　even　the　fighting　cocks　tied　outside　were　dozing　on
their　perches。　　He　was　unusually　weary；　he　had　been　riding
since　dawn；　and　his　heart　had　not　been　in　sympathy　with　his
body；　it　had　said　no　good　cheer　to　it；　whispered　no　word　of
courage　or　promise。

All　at　once　his　physical　endurance　seemed　exhausted；　and　he
saw　the　white　wall　and　arched　gateway　of　his　garden　and　the
turrets　of　his　home　with　an　inexpressible　relief。　　But　it　was
the　hour　of　siesta；　and　he　was　always　careful　not　to　let　the
requirements　of　his　profession　disturb　his　household。　　So　he
rode　quietly　to　the　rear；　where　he　found　a　peon　nodding　within
the　stable　door。　　He　opened　his　eyes　unnaturally　wide；　and
rose　to　serve　his　master。

〃See　thou　rub　the　mare　well　down；　and　give　her　corn　and
water。〃

〃To　be　sure；　Senior；　that　is　to　be　done。　　A　stranger　has　been
here　to…day；　an　American。〃

〃What　did　he　say　to　thee？〃

〃That　he　would　call　again；　Senor。〃

The　incident　was　not　an　unusual　one；　and　it　did　not　trouble
the　doctor's　mind。　　There　was　on　the　side　of　the　house　a　low
extension　containing　two　rooms。　　These　rooms　belonged
exclusively　to　him。　　One　was　his　study；　his　office；　his
covert；　the　place　to　which　he　went　when　he　wanted　to　be　alone
with　his　own　soul。　　There　were　a　bed　and　bath　and　refreshments
in　the　other　room。　　He　went　directly　to　it；　and　after　eating
and　washing；　fell　into　a　profound　sleep。

At　the　hour　before　Angelus　the　house　was　as　noisy　and　busy　as
if　it　had　been　an　inn。　　The　servants　were　running　hither　and
thither；　all　of　them　expressing　themselves　in　voluble　Spanish。　
The　cooks　were　quarrelling　in　the　kitchen。　　Antonia　was
showing　the　table　men；　as　she　had　to　do　afresh　every　day；　how
to　lay　the　cloth　and　serve　the　dishes　in　the　American　fashion。　
When　the　duty　was　completed；　she　went　into　the　garden　to
listen　for　the　Angelus。　　The　young　ladies