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surprise, that his wife's political sympathies were still in a state of
transition and uncertainty. She could not avoid prophesying the speedy
and frightful vengeance of Mexico. She treated the success at San
Antonio as one of the accidents of war. She looked forward to an early
renewal of hostilities.

"My countrymen are known to me, Roberto," she said, with a touch that
was almost a hope of vengeance. "They have an insurmountable honor; they
will revenge this insult to it in some terrible way. If the gracious
Maria holds not the hands of Santa Anna, he will utterly destroy the
Americans! He will be like a tiger that has become mad."

"I am not so much afraid of Santa Anna as of Fray Ignatius. Promise me,
my dear Maria, that you will not suffer yourself or your children to be
decoyed by him into a convent. I should never see you again."

The discussion on this subject was long and eager. Antonia, talking
with Dare a little apart, could not help hearing it and feeling great
interest in her father's entreaties, even though she was discussing
with Dare the plans for their future. For Dare had much to tell his
betrothed. During the siege, the doctor had discovered that his intended
son-in-law was a fine surgeon. Dare had, with great delicacy, been quite
reticent on this subject, until circumstances made his assistance a
matter of life and death; and the doctor understood and appreciated the
young man's silence.

"He thinks I might have a touch of professional jealousy--he thinks I
might suspect him of wanting a partnership as well as a wife; he wishes
to take his full share of the dangers of war, without getting behind the
shield of his profession"; these feelings the doctor understood, and he
passed from Fray Ignatius to this pleasanter topic, gladly.

He told the Senora what a noble son they were going to have; he said,
"when the war is over, Maria, my dear, he shall marry Antonia."

"And what do you say, Roberto, if I should give them the fine house on
the Plaza that my brother Perfecto left me?"

"If you do that you will be the best mother in the world, Maria. I
then will take Dare into partnership. He is good and clever; and I am a
little weary of work. I shall enjoy coming home earlier to you. We will
go riding and walking, and our courting days will begin again."

"Maria Santissima! How delightful that will be, Roberto! And as for our
Isabel, shall we not make her happy also? Luis should have done as
hi