Benicia drew a long hysterical breath and went over ■
to the window. It looked upon a large yard enclosed i
by the high adobe wall upon which her lovers so often
had sat and sung to her. No flowers were in the garden,
not even a tree. It was as smooth and clean as the floor
of a ballroom. About the well in the middle were three
or four Indian servants quarrelling good-naturedly. The
house stood on the rise of one of the crescent's horns. !
Benicia looked up at the dark pine woods on the hilL
What days she had spent there with her mother ! She J
whirled about suddenly and taking a large fan from the
table returned to the sala. 4



THE EARS OF TWENTY AMERICANS 101

Dofia Eustaquia laughed. "Thou silly child, to dress
ryself like a bride. What nonsense is this ? "

"I will be a bride in an hour, my mother."

"Go! Go, with thy nonsense! I have spoiled thee!
Ifhat other girl in Monterey would dare to dress herself
fee tills at eleven in the morning? Go! And do not
torn that mantilla, for thou wilt not get another. Thou
it going to Blandina's, no? Be sure thou goest no
tarther! I would not let thee go there alone were it
tot so near. And be sure thou speakest to no man in
he street"

" No, mamacita, I will speak to no man in the street,
int one awaits me in the house. Hast a luego." And
he flitted out of the door and up the street.
