The　crown　He　wore　was　of　the　pointed　thorn
  In　purple　He　was　crucified；　not　born。
  They　who　contend　for　place　and　high　degree
  Are　not　His　sons；　but　those　of　Zebedee。〃
  DRYDEN。
  The　exalted　state　of　mind　which　the　victorious　men　had　brought
  home　with　them　did　not　vanish　with　sleep。　　The　same　heroic
  atmosphere　was　in　the　house　in　the　morning。　　Antonia's　face
  had　a　brightness　upon　it　that　never　yet　was　the　result　of　mere
  flesh　and　blood。　　When　she　came　into　the　usual　sitting…room；
  Dare　was　already　there；　indeed；　he　had　risen　purposely　for
  this　hour。　　Their　smiles　and　glances　met　each　other　with
  an　instantaneous　understanding。　　It　was　the　old　Greek
  greeting　〃REJOICE！〃　without　the　audible　expression。
  Never　again；　perhaps；　in　all　their　lives　would　moments　so　full
  of　sweetness　and　splendor　come　to　them。　　They　were　all　the
  sweeter　because　blended　with　the　homely　duties　that　fell　to
  Antonia's　hands。　　As　she　went　about　ordering　the　breakfast；
  and　giving　to　the　table　a　festal　air；　Dare　thought　of　the　old
  Homeric　heroes；　and　the　daughters　of　the　kings　who　ministered
  to　their　wants。　　The　bravest　of　them　had　done　no　greater　deeds
  of　personal　valor　than　had　been　done　by　the　little　band　of
  American　pioneers　and　hunters　with　whom　he　had　fought　the　last
  four　days。　　The　princes　among　them　had　been　welcomed　by　no
  sweeter　and　fairer　women　than　had　welcomed　his　companions　and
  himself。
  And；　though　his　clothing　was　black　with　the　smoke　of　the
  battle　and　torn　with　the　fray；　never　had　Dare　himself　looked
  so　handsome。　　There　was　an　unspeakable　radiance　in　his　fair
  face。　　The　close；　brown　curls　of　his　hair；　his　tall　figure；
  supple　and　strong；　his　air　of　youth；　and　valor；　and　victory；
  the　love…light　in　his　eyes；　the　hopes　in　his　heart；　made
  him　for　the　time　really　more　than　a　mere　mortal　man。　　He
  walked　like　the　demi…gods　he　was　thinking　of。　　The　most
  glorious　ideal　of　life；　the　brightest　dream　of　love　that　he
  had　ever　had；　found　in　this　hour　their　complete　realization。
  The　Senora　did　not　come　down；　but　Isabel　and　Luis　and　the
  doctor　joined　the　breakfast　party。　　Luis　had　evidently　been　to
  see　Lopez　Navarro　before　he　did　so；　for　he　wore　a　new　suit　of
  dark　blue　velvet　and　silver；　a　sash　of　crimson　silk；　the
  neatest　of　patent　leather　shoes；　and　the　most　beautifully
  embroidered　linen。　　Dare　gave　him　a　little　smile　and　nod　of
  approbation。　　He　had　not　thought　of　fine　clothing　for　himself；
  but　then　for　the　handsome；　elegant；　Mexican　youth　it　seemed
  precisely　the　right　thing。　　And　Isabel；　in　her　scarlet　satin
  petticoat；　and　white　embroideries　and　satin　slippers；　looked
  his　proper　mate。　　Dare　and　Antonia；　and　even　the　doctor；
  watched　their　almost　childlike　devotion　to　each　other　with
  sympathetic　delight。
  Oh；　if　such　moments　could　only　last！　　No；　no；　as　a　rule　they
  last　long　enough。　　Joy　wearies　as　well　as　sorrow。　　An
  abiding　rapture　would　make　itself　a　sorrow　out　of　our　very
  weakness　to　bear　it。　　We　should　become　exhausted　and　exacting；
  and　be　irritated　by　the　limitations　of　our　nature；　and　our
  inability　to　create　and　to　endure　an　increasing　rapture。　　It
  is　because　joy　is　fugitive　that　it　leaves　us　a　delightsome
  memory。　　It　is　far　better；　then；　not　to　hold　the　rose　until　it
  withers　in　our　fevered　hand。
  The　three　women　watched　their　heroes　go　back　to　the　city。　　The
  doctor　looked　very　little　older　than　his　companions。　　He　sat
  his　horse　superbly；　and　he　lifted　his　hat　to　the　proud　Senora
  with　a　loving　grace　which　neither　of　the　young　men　could
  excel。　　In　that　far　back　year；　when　he　had　wooed　her　with　the
  sweet　words　she　taught　him；　he　had　not　looked　more　manly　and
  attractive。　　There　is　a　perverse　disposition　in　women　to　love
  personal　prowess；　and　to　adore　the　heroes　of　the　battle…field；
  and　never　had　the　Senora　loved　her　husband　as　she　did　at　that
  hour。
  In　his　capacity　of　physician　he　had　done　unnoticed　deeds　of
  far　greater　braverygone　into　a　Comanche　camp　that　was　being
  devastated　by　smallpoxor　galloped　fifty　miles；　alone　in
  the　night；　through　woods　haunted　by　savage　men　and　beasts；　to
  succor　some　little　child　struggling　with　croup；　or　some
  frontiersman　pierced　with　an　arrow。　　The　Senora　had　always
  fretted　and　scolded　a　little　when　he　thus　exposed　his　life。
  But　the　storming　of　the　Alamo！　　That　was　a　bravery　she　could
  understand。　　Her　Roberto　was　indeed　a　hero！　　Though　she　could
  not　bring　herself　to　approve　the　cause　for　which　he　fought；
  she　was　as　sensitive　as　men　and　women　always　are　to　victorious
  valor　and　a　successful　cause。
  Rachela　was　in　a　state　of　rebellion。　　Nothing　but　the　express
  orders　of　Fray　Ignatius；　to　remain　where　she　was；　prevented
  her　leaving　the　Worths；　for　the　freedom　so　suddenly　given　to
  Isabel　had　filled　her　with　indignation。　　She　was　longing　to　be
  in　some　house　where　she　could　give　adequate　expression　to　the
  diabolical　temper　she　felt　it　right　to　indulge。
  In　the　afternoon　it　was　some　relief　to　see　the　confessor
  coming　up　the　garden。　　He　had　resumed　his　usual　deliberate
  pace。　　His　hands　were　folded　upon　his　breast。　　He　looked　as
  the　mournful　Jeremiah　may　have　looked；　when　he　had　the
  burden　of　a　heavy　prophecy　to　deliver。
  The　Senora　sat　down　with　a　doggedly　sullen　air；　which　Antonia
  understood　very　well。　　It　meant；　〃I　am　not　to　be　forced　to
  take　any　way　but　my　own；　to…day〃；　and　the　wise　priest
  understood　her　mood　as　soon　as　he　entered　the　room。　　He　put
  behind　him　the　reproof　he　had　been　meditating。　　He　stimulated
  her　curiosity；　he　asked　her　sympathy。　　No　man　knew　better　than
  Fray　Ignatius；　when　to　assume　sacerdotal　authority　and　when　to
  lay　it　aside。
  And　the　Senora　was　never　proof　against　the　compliment　of　his
  personal　friendship。　　The　fight；　as　it　affected　himself　and
  his　brotherhood　and　the　convent；　was　full　of　interest　to　her。
  She　smiled　at　Brother　Servando's　childish　alarm；　she　was　angry
  at　an　insult　offered　to　the　venerable　abbot；　she　condoled　with
  the　Sisters；　wept　at　the　danger　that　the　famous　statue　of　the
  Virgin　de　Los　Reinedias　had　been　exposed　to；　and　was
  altogether　as　sympathetic　as　he　could　desire；　until　her　own
  affairs　were　mentioned。
  〃And　you　also；　my　daughter？　　The　sword　has　pierced　your
  heart　too；　I　am　sure！　　To　know　that　your　husband　and　sons　were
  fighting　against　your　God　and　your　country！　　Holy　Mother！　　How
  great　must　have　been　your　grief。　　But；　for　your　comfort；　I
  tell　you　that　the　saints　who　have　suffered　a　fiery　martyrdom
  stand　at　the　feet　of　those　who；　like　you；　endure　the　continual
  crucifixion　of　their　affections。〃
  The　Senora　was　silent；　but　not　displeased　and　the　priest　then
  ventured　a　little　further：
  〃But　there　is　an　end　to　all　trials；　daughter　and　I　now　absolve
  you　from　the　further　struggle。　　Decide　this　day　for　your　God
  and　your　country。　　Make　an　offering　to　Almighty　God　and　the
  Holy　Mother　of　your　earthly　love。　　Give　yourself　and　your
  daughters　and　all　that　you　have　to　the　benign　and　merciful
  Church。　　Show　these　rebels　and　hereticsthese　ungrateful
  recipients　of　Mexican　bountywhat　a　true　Catholic　is　capable
  of。　　His　Divine　Majesty　and　the　Holy　Mary　demand　this　supreme
  sacrifice　from　you。〃
  〃Father；　I　have　my　husband；　and　my　sons；　to　them；　also；　I　owe
  some　duties。〃
  〃The　Church　will　absolve　you　from　them。〃
  〃It　would　break　my　heart。〃
  〃Listen　then：　　If　it　is　your　right　hand；　or　your　right　eye
  that　is；　if　it　is　your　husband；　or　your　childyou　are
  commanded　to　give　them　up；　orit　is　God's　wordthere　is　only
  hell　fire。〃
  〃Mother　of　Sorrows；　pity　me！　　What　shall　I　do？〃
  She　looked　with　the　terror　of　a　child　into　the　dark；　cruel
  face　of　the　priest。　　It　was　as　immovably　stern　as　if　carved
  out　of　stone。　　Then　her　eyes　sought　those　of　Antonia；　who　sat
  at　a　distant　window　with　her　embroidery　in　her　hand。　　She　let
  it　fall　when　her　mother's　pitiful；　uncertain　glance　asked　from
  her　strength　and　counsel。　　She　rose　and　went　to　her。　　Never
  had　the　tall；　fair　girl　looked　so　noble。　　A　sorrowful　majesty；
  that　had　something　in　it　of　pity　and　something　of　anger；　gave
  to　her　countenance；　her　movements；　and　even　her　speech；　a　kind
  of　authority。
  〃Dear　mother；　do　as　the　beloved　and　kindhearted　Ruth　did。
  Like　you；　she　married　one　not　of　her　race　and　not　of　her
  religion。　　Even　when　God　had　taken　him　from　her；　she　chose
  to　remain　with　his　peopleto　leave　her　own　people　and
  abide　with　his　mother。　For　this　act　God　blessed　her；
  and　all　nations　in　all　ages　have　honored　her。〃
  〃Ruth！　　Ruth！　　Ruth！　　What　has　Ruth　to　do　with　the　question？
  Presumptuous　one！　　Ruth　was　a　heathen　womana　Moabitea　race
  ten　times　accursed。〃
  〃Pardon；　father。　　Ruth　was　the　ancestress　of　our　blessed
  Saviour；　and　of　the　Virgin　Mary。〃
  〃Believe　not　the　wicked　one；　Senora？　　She　is　blinded　with
  false　knowledge。　　She　is　a　heretic。　　I　have　long　suspected　it。
  She　has　not　been　to　confession　for　nine　months。〃
  〃You　wrong　me；　father。　　Every　day；　twice　a　day；　I　confess　my
  sins　humbly。〃
  〃Chito！　　You　are　in　outrageous　sin。　　But；　then；　what　else？　　I
  hear；　indeed；　that　you　read　wicked　bookseven　upon　your　knees
  you　read　them。〃
  〃I　read　my　Bible；　father。〃
  〃Bring　it　to　me。　　How　could　a　child　like　you　read　the　Bible？
  It　is　a　book　for　bi