ut, with a child's unreason, she had also
a sweet ductility of nature; she was easily persuaded, easily pleased,
and quite ready to console herself with the assurance that it only
needed Doctor Worth's presence and personal influence to drive away all
intruders upon her rights.

In the mean time she was contented. The finest goods in San Antonio were
sent early on the following morning to her room; and the selection of
three entire wardrobes gave her abundance of delightful employment. She
almost wept with joy as she passed the fine lawns and rich silks through
her worn fingers. And when she could cast off forever her garment of
heaviness and of weariful wanderings, and array herself in the splendid
robes which she wore with such grace and pleasure, she was an honestly
grateful woman.

Then she permitted Lopez to let her old acquaintances know of her
presence in her native city; and she was comforted when she began to
receive calls from the Senora Alveda, and judge and Senora Valdez, and
many other of her friends and associates. They encouraged her to talk of
her sufferings and her great loss. Even the judge thought it worth his
while, now, to conciliate the simple little woman. He had wisdom enough
to perceive that Mexican domination was over, and that the American
influence of Doctor Worth was likely to be of service to him.

The Senora found herself a heroine; more than that, she became aware
that for some reason those who had once patronized her were now disposed
to pay her a kind of court. But this did not lessen her satisfaction;
she suspected no motive but real kindness, for she had that innate
rectitude which has always confidence in the honesty of others.

There was now full reconciliation between Luis and his mother and
uncles; and his betrothal to Isabel was acknowledged with all the
customary rejoicings and complimentary calls and receptions. Life
quickly began to fall back into its well-defined grooves; if there was
anything unusual, every one made an effort to pass it by without notice.
The city was conspicuously in this mind. American rule was accepted in
the quiescent temper with which men and women accept weather which may
or may not be agreeable, but which is known to be unavoidable. Americans
were coming by hundreds and by thousands: and those Mexicans who could
not make up their minds to become Texans, and to assimilate with the new
elements sure to predominate, were quietly breaking up their home