thoroughfares；　but　that　indescribable　feeling　of　good　will
  which　comes　with　Christmas　pervaded　the　atmosphere；　and　gave；
  even　in　the　midst　of　war　and　danger；　a　sense　of　anticipated
  pleasure。
  At　the　Worth　residence　there　was　a　household　feast。　　The
  Senora　and　her　daughters　were　in　full　dress。　　They　were
  waiting　for　the　dear　ones　who　had　promised　to　join　them　at　the
  Angelus。　　One　by　one　the　houses　around　were　illuminated。
  Parties　of　simple　musicians　began　to　pass　each　other
  continuallythey　were　going　to　serenade　the　blessed　Mary　all
  night　long。　　As　Antonia　closed　the　balcony　window；　half　a
  dozen　of　these　young　boys　passed　the　garden　hedge　singing　to
  the　clacking　of　their　castanets
  〃This　is　the　eve　of　Christmas；
  No　sleep　from　night　to　morn；
  The　Virgin　is　in　travail；
  At　twelve　will　the　Child　be　born。〃
  Luis　appeared　at　the　same　moment。　　He　caught　up　the　wild
  melody　and　came　up　the　garden　path　singing　it。　　Dare　and　the
  doctor　followed　him。　　It　struck　Antonia　that　they　were
  talking　of　a　change；　or　of　something　important。　　But　there　was
  no　time　for　observation。　　Isabel；　radiant　in　crimson　satin；
  with　her　white　mantilla　over　her　head；　darted　forward　to　meet
  Luis；　and　turned　his　song　to　the　Virgin　into　a　little
  adulation　for　herself。　　Dare　and　the　doctor　took　Antonia's
  hands；　and　there　was　something　in　the　silent　clasp　of　each
  which　made　her　heart　tremble。
  But　she　was　not　one　of　those　foolish　women　who　enquire　after
  misfortune。　　She　could　wait　and　let　the　evil　news　find　her；
  and　by　so　doing　she　won　many　a　bright　hour　from　the　advancing
  shadows。　　The　Senora　was　in　unusual　spirits。　　She　had　obtained
  a　new　confessor。　　〃A　man　of　the　most　seraphic　mind；　and；
  moreover；　so　fortunate　as　to　be　connected　with　the　house　of
  Flores。〃　　He　had　been　gentle　to　her　in　the　matter　of　penances；
  and　not　set　her　religious　obligations　above　her　capacities。
  Consequently；　the　Senora　had　laid　aside　her　penitential
  garments。　　She　was　in　full　Castilian　costume；　and　looked　very
  handsome。　　But　Antonia；　who　had　been　in　New　York　during　those
  years　when　she　would　otherwise　have　been　learning　how　to
  wear　a　mantilla　and　use　a　fan；　did　not　attempt　such
  difficulties　of　the　toilet。　　She　knew　that　she　would　look
  unnatural　in　them；　and　she　adhered　to　the　American　fashions　of
  her　day。　　But　in　a　plain　frock　of　dark　satin　trimmed　with
  minever　bands；　she　looked　exceedingly　noble　and　lovely。
  The　meal　was　a　very　merry　one；　and　after　it　Lopez　Navarro
  joined　the　party　and　they　had　music　and　dancing；　and　finally
  gathered　around　the　fire　to　hear　the　singing　of　Luis。　　He　knew
  a　great　many　of　the　serenades；　and　as　he　sang　of　the　Virgin
  and　the　Babe；　a　sweeter　peace；　a　more　solemn　joy；　came　to　each
  heart。　　It　was　like　bringing　something　of　the　bliss　of　heaven
  into　the　bliss　of　earth。　　The　Senora's　eyes　were　full　of
  tears；　she　slipped　her　hand　into　her　husband's　and　looked　at
  him　with　a　face　which　asked；　〃Do　you　not　also　feel　the
  eternity　of　a　true　love？〃
  〃How　sweet　and　wild　are　these　serenades；　Luis！　said　Antonia。
  〃I　wonder　who　wrote　them？〃
  〃But；　then；　they　were　never　written；　my　sister。　　Out　of　the
  hearts　of　lonely　shepherds　they　came；　or　of　women　spinning　in
  their　quiet　houses；　yes；　even　of　soldiers　in　the　strong
  places　keeping　their　watch。〃
  〃That　is　the　truth；　Luis；〃　answered　Isabel。　　〃And　every
  Christmas；　when　I　was　in　the　convent　the　Sisters　made　a
  serenade　to　the　Virgin；　or　a　seguidilla　to　our　blessed　Lord。
  Very　still　are　the　Sisters；　but　when　it　comes　to　singing；　I
  can　assure　you　the　angels　might　listen！〃
  〃There　is　a　seguidilla　I　hear　everywhere；〃　said　the　doctor；
  〃and　I　never　hear　it　without　feeling　the　better　for　listening。
  It　begins‘So　noble　a　Lord。'〃
  〃That；　indeed！〃　cried　Luis。　　〃Who　knows　it　not？　　It　is　the
  seguidilla　to　our　blessed　Lord；　written　by　the　daughter　of
  Lope　de　Vegathe　holy　Marcela　Carpio。　　You　know　it；　Senora？〃
  〃As　I　know　my　Credo；　Luis。〃
  〃And　you；　Isabel？〃
  〃Since　I　was　a　little　one；　as　high　as　my　father's　knee。
  Rachela　taught　it　to　me。〃
  〃And　you；　Lopez。〃
  〃That　is　sure；　Luis。〃
  〃And　I；　too！〃　said　Antonia；　smiling。　　〃Here　is　your　mandolin。
  Strike　the　chords；　and　we　will　all　sing　with　you。　　My
  father　will　remember　also。〃　　And　the　doctor　smiled　an　assent；
  as　the　young　man　resigned　Isabel's　hand　with　a　kiss；　and　swept
  the　strings　in　that　sweetness　and　power　which　flows　invisibly；
  but　none　the　less　surely；　from　the　heart　to　the　instrument。
  〃It　is　to　my　blessed　Lord　and　Redeemer；　I　sing；〃　he　said；
  bowing　his　head。　　Then　he　stood　up　and　looked　at　his
  companions；　and　struck　the　key…note；　when　every　one　joined
  their　voices　with　his　in　the　wonderful　little　hymn：
  So　noble　a　Lord
  None　serves　in　vain；
  For　the　pay　of　my　love
  Is　my　love's　sweet　pain。
  In　the　place　of　caresses
  Thou　givest　me　woes；
  I　kiss　Thy　hands；
  When　I　feel　their　blows。
  For　in　Thy　chastening；
  Is　joy　and　peace；
  O　Master　and　Lord！
  Let　thy　blows　not　cease。
  I　die　with　longing
  Thy　face　to　see
  And　sweet　is　the　anguish
  Of　death　to　me。
  For；　because　Thou　lovest　me；
  Lover　of　mine！
  Death　can　but　make　me
  Utterly　Thine！
  The　doctor　was　the　first　to　speak　after　the　sweet　triumph　of
  the　notes　had　died　away。　　〃Many　a　soul　I　have　seen　pass
  whispering　those　verses；〃　he　said；　〃men　and　women；　and　little
  children。〃
  〃The　good　Marcela　in　heaven　has　that　for　her　joy；〃　answered
  Luis。
  Lopez　rose　while　the　holy　influence　still　lingered。　　He　kissed
  the　hands　of　every　one；　and　held　the　doctor's　in　his　own　until
  they　reached　the　threshold。　　A　more　than　usual　farewell　took
  place　there；　though　there　were　only　a　few　whispered　words。
  〃Farewell；　Lopez！　　I　can　trust　you？〃
  〃Unto　death。〃
  〃If　we　never　meet　again？〃
  〃Still　it　will　be　FAREWELL。　　Thou　art　in　God's　care。〃
  Very　slowly　the　doctor　sauntered　back　to　the　parlor；　like　a
  man　who　has　a　heavy　duty　to；　do　and　hardly　knows　how　to　begin
  it。　　〃But　I　will　tell　Maria　first；〃　he　whispered；　and　then
  he　opened　the　door；　and　saw　the　Senora　bidding　her
  children　good…night。
  〃What　a　happy　time　we　have　had！〃　she　was　saying。　　〃I　shall
  never　forget　it。　　Indeed；　my　dears；　you　see　how　satisfactory
  it　is　to　be　religious。　　When　we　talk　of　the　saints　and　angels；
  they　come　round　us　to　listen　to　what　we　say；　accordingly；　we
  are　full　of　peace　and　pleasure。　　I　know　that　because　I　heard
  FrayI　heard　a　very　good　man　say　so。〃
  She　smiled　happily　at　her　husband；　as　she　took　his　arm；　and
  twice；　as　they　went　slowly　upstairs　together；　she　lifted　her
  face　for　his　kiss。　　Her　gentleness　and　affection　made　it　hard
  for　him　to　speak；　but　there　were　words　to　be　said　that　could
  be　no　longer　delayed；　and　when　he　had　closed　the　room　door；　he
  took　her　hands　in　his；　and　looked　into　her　face　with　eyes　that
  told　her　all。
  〃You　are　going　away；　Roberto；〃　she　whispered。
  〃My　love！　　Yes！　　To…nightthis　very　hour　I　must　go！　　Luis　and
  Dare　also。　　Do　not　weep。　　I　entreat　you！　　My　heart　is　heavy；
  and　your　tears　I　cannot　bear。〃
  Then　she　answered；　with　a　noble　Composure：　　〃I　will　give
  you　smiles　and　kisses。　　My　good　Roberto；　so　true　and　kind！　　I
  will　try　to　be　worthy　of　you。　　Nay；　but　you　must　not　weep
  Roberto！〃
  It　was　true。　　Quite　unconsciously　the　troubled　husband　and
  father　was　weeping。　　〃I　fear　to　leave　you；　dear　Maria。　　All　is
  so　uncertain。　　I　can　only　ask　you　two　favors；　if　you　will
  grant　them；　you　will　do　all　that　can　be　done　to　send　me　away
  with　hope。　　Will　you　promise　me　to　have　nothing　to　do　whatever
  with　Fray　Ignatius；　and　to　resist　every　attempt　he　may　make　to
  induce　you　to　go　into　a　religious　house　of　any　kind？〃
  〃I　promise　you；　Roberto。　　By　my　mother's　cross；　I　promise
  you！〃
  〃Again；　dear　Maria；　if　you　should　be　in　any　danger；　promise　me
  that　you　will　do　as　Antonia　and　Lopez　Navarro　think　it　wisest
  and　best。〃
  〃Go　with　God；　my；　husband。　　Go　with　God；　in　a　good　hour。　　All
  you　wish；　I　will　do。〃
  He　held　her　to　his　heart　and　kissed　her；　and　she　whispered
  amid　her　tender　farewells　to　himself；　messages　to　her　soils
  but　especially　to　Juan。　　〃Will　you　see　Juan？　　If　you　do；　tell
  him　I　repent。　　I　send　him　a　thousand　blessings！　　Ah；　the
  dear　one！　　Kiss　him　for　me；　Roberto！　　Tell　him　how　much　I　love
  him；　Roberto！　　How　I　sorrow　because　I　was　cross　to　him！　　My
  precious　one！　　My　good　son；　who　always　loved　me　so　dearly！〃
  At　length　Isabel　came　in　to　weep　in　her　mother's　arms。　　〃Luis
  is　going　away；〃　she　cried。　　The　father　felt　a　momentary　keen
  pang　of　jealousy。　　〃I　am　going　also；　queridita；〃　he　said
  mournfully。　　Then　she　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck　and
  bewailed　her　bad　fortune。　　〃If　I　were　the　Almighty　God；　I
  would　not　give　love　and　then　take　it　away；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I
  would　give　orders　that　the　good　people　should　always　be　happy。
  I　would　not　let　men　like　Santa　Anna　live。　　He　is　a　measureless
  monster；　and　ought　to　go　to　the　dto　purgatory；　at　the　very
  least。〃
  While　the　Senora　soothed　her　complaining；　the　doctor　left。
  One　troubled　glance　of　a　great　love　he　cast　backward　from　the
  door　ere　he　clos