"The jade--coquetting openly on the highroad!" cried the Señora
furiously, stepping out from the shadow of the wall after the Captain
had disappeared down the road.
"Will she stop at nothing? It's true, she loves him! What would Don
Felipe do had he witnessed what she had just seen?" and she shuddered as
she paused breathlessly before the high iron gate, her cheeks aglow and
her eyes flashing with indignation. Cautiously pushing open the gate
which stood ajar, she paused for an instant on the inside, casting her
eyes nervously about her in search of Chiquita, but seeing no one, she
advanced slowly along the walk leading in the direction of the house.
She had not far to go before she came upon the object of her quest,
seated on a rough stone bench in the shade of a thick cluster of
tamarisk bushes which grew close to the wall.
The surprise Chiquita felt on seeing the Señora standing before her so
unexpectedly, caused her to let fall the book which she was vainly
endeavoring to read--an action which the Señora regarded as an admission
of her guilt; and she exulted in her evident embarrassment.
The episode of the rose had caused her to quite forget her mission for
the moment. From her general air of excitement, flushed face and
flashing eyes, Chiquita rightly conjectured that something unusual had
happened and that an outburst of some sort or other was imminent. It
came like an explosion.
"Holy Virgin!" she cried, eyeing Chiquita critically. "What is the
meaning of this; dressed in your very best? Is this the Sabbath, or one
of the blessed Saints' days, or perhaps a Palm-Sunday that you should
array yourself thus? Mother of God! when has it become the fashion for
young ladies to disport themselves in their best clothes on common,
ordinary week days? Why, 'tis not even a Fish-Friday! Merciful Heaven!
to what are we coming?" she gasped between breaths, clasping her hands
and glancing heavenward. "Do such dresses grow upon bushes that they are
so easily obtained? Doubtless," she concluded with withering sarcasm,
"when they are worn threadbare as they soon will be owing to such
constant usage, you will purchase others with those golden _pesos_ which
you earned so recently."
Chiquita, accustomed to the Señora's outbursts, did not deign an
immediate reply, but sat quietly fanning herself, a faint smile
wreathing her lips; she was thoroughly enjoying the Señora's discomfort.
What would not the latter give to know something concerning those
_pesos_? Chiquita's composure under the fire of her words only tended to
increase her irritation.
"Oh, I know why you have thus suddenly turned the peacock! You do not
deceive me! You have arrayed yourself thus for the grand
Señor--_Capitan_ Forest."
"Bah!" ejaculated Chiquita composedly, as though nothing unusual were
taking place. "Is that all you have to say Doña Fernandez?"
"All! Is that not enough? Holy God!" she cried with increasing vexation.
"You are in love--in love, I say!" A ripple of laughter bubbled over the
two rosy petals of Chiquita's lips, revealing the pearly whiteness of
her teeth. Now that she realized the real cause of the Señora's anger,
it was impossible to become angry herself. The Señora, however, was by
no means abashed by Chiquita's indifference, and vigorously renewed the
attack.
"So our little ring-dove is in love, is she?" she continued mockingly,
strutting back and forth before her. "You think _Capitan_ Forest will
notice you in that finery--that he will fall in love with you and will
marry you, and that you will become a grand lady like the Señorita
Lennox and ride in a fine carriage for the rest of your days. _Mercedes
Dios!_ and all because you have succeeded in turning the heads of a few
country bumpkins that hang about the place casting sheep's-eyes at you.
Ha, ha, ha!" she laughed derisively. "Believe me, when _Capitan_ Forest
makes up his mind to marry, he will not stoop so low to pick up so
little."
"Doña Fernandez!" said Chiquita sharply rising from the bench with an
ominous look in her eyes.
"Foolish child," Señora went on without heeding her, "to imagine that
some day your hands will be white like a lady's! I suppose you have
nothing further to do to-day but to pick flowers?" she added, pausing
for breath.
"I have never worried about my color, Doña Fernandez," replied Chiquita
indignantly. "Indeed, I sometimes think it holds its own better than
that of some persons I might mention."
"Holy Mother! how your tongue runs on! Am I not to be allowed to say
anything? Oh, you do not deceive me! I saw you give him the rose as I
came here. If he's sensible, he'll throw it away."
Chiquita laughed derisively. "Perhaps it is well for the world that all
people are not so sensible as you are, Doña Fernandez," and her fan
closed with a sudden snap. "So this is the advice you came to give me,
Doña Fernandez? How very considerate of you!"
Her words recalled the Señora to the purpose of her coming. For some
time she paced up and down before Chiquita without replying. Then
stopping and facing her, and watching closely for the effect her words
would have upon her, she said: "I came to tell you--that Don Felipe
Ramirez has returned."