e in wrath; for was not she noticed by the
loveliest senorita in all the Californias, while others, envious and
spiteful to a poor girl no worse than themselves, were ignored?

Concha's cheeks were as pink as the Castilian roses that grew even
before the kitchen door and were quivering at the moment under the
impassioned carolling of a choir of larks. Her black eyes were full of
dancing lights, like the imprisoned sun-flecks under the rose bush, and
never had indolent Spanish hands moved so quickly.

"Mira! Mira!" she cried to the luckless Rosa. "That is the third time
thou hast spilt the chocolate. Thy hands are of wood when they should
be of air. A soft bit of linen to clean them, not that coarse rag.
Dios de mi alma! I shall send for Malia."

"For the love of Mary, senorita, have pity!" wailed Rosa.
"There--see--thanks to the Virgin I have poured three cups without
spilling a drop. And this rag is of soft linen. Look, Dona Concha, is
it not true?"

"Bueno; take care thou leavest not one drop on a saucer and I will
forgive thee--do not kiss my hand now, foolish one! How can I whirl
the molinillo? Be always good and I will burn a candle for thee every
time I go to the Mission. The Russians go to the Mission this morning.
Hast thou seen the Russians, Rosa?"

"I have seen them, senorita. Did I not serve at table yesterday?"

"True; I had forgotten. What didst thou think of them?"

"What matters it to such great folk what a poor Indian girl thinks of
them? They are very fair, which may be the fashion in their country;
but I am not accustomed to it; and I like not beards."

"His excellency wore no beard--he who sat on my mother's right and
opposite to me."

"He is very grand, senorita; more grand than the Governor, who after
all has red hair and is old. He is even grander than Don Jose, whom
may the saints preserve; or than the padres at the mission. Perhaps he
is a king, like our King and natural lord in spain. (El rey nuestro y
senor natural.) Is he a king, senorita?"

"No, but he should be. Rosa, thou mayest have my red cloak that came
from Mexico--last year. I have a new one and that is too small. I had
intended to give it to Ana Paula, but thou art a good girl and should
have a gay mantle for Sunday, like the other girls. I have also a red
ribbon for thy hair--"

Rosa spilt half the contents of the chocolate pot on the floor and
Concha gave her a sound box on the ear. However, she did not