n their
agreement to "retire from Texas, and never again carry arms against the
Americans." He knew that they did not consider it any sin to make "a
mental reservation" against a heretic. He was quite sure that if Cos met
reinforcements, he would have to be fought over again immediately.

And amid these public cares and considerations, he had serious private
ones. The Senora was still under the control of Fray Ignatius. It
required all the influence of his own personal presence and affection
to break the spiritual captivity in which he held her. He knew that the
priest had long been his enemy.

He saw that Antonia was hated by him. He was in the shadow of a terror
worse than death--that of a long, hopeless captivity. A dungeon and
a convent might become to them a living grave, in which cruelty and
despair would slowly gnaw life away.

And yet, for a day or two he resolved not to speak of his terror. The
Senora was so happy in his presence, and she had such kind confidences
to give him about her plans for her children's future, that he could
not bear to alarm her. And the children also were so full of youth's
enthusiasms and love's sweet dreams. Till the last moment why should
he awaken them? And as the strongest mental element in a home gives the
tone to it, so Dare and Antonia, with the doctor behind them, gave to
the Mexican household almost an American freedom of intercourse and
community of pleasure.

The Senora came to the parlor far more frequently, and in her own
apartments her children visited her with but slight ceremony. They
discussed all together their future plans. They talked over a wonderful
journey which they were to take in company to New Orleans, and
Washington, and New York, and perhaps even to London and Paris--"who
could tell, if the Senora would be so good as to enjoy herself?" They
ate more together. They got into the habit of congregating about the
same hearthstone. It was the Senora's first real experience of domestic
life.

In about six days the Mexican forces left the city. The terms of
surrender granted General Cos struck the Mexicans with a kind of wonder.
They had fought with the express declaration that they would take no
American prisoner. Yet the Americans not only permitted Cos and his
troops to leave under parole of honor, but gave them their arms and
sufficient ammunition to protect themselves from the Indians on their
journey home. They allowed them also all their private prope