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Of the tremendous mystery of sex she knew almost nothing. Girls were brought up in such ignorance in those days that many a bride ran home to her mother on her wedding night; and books teach Innocence little. But she was fully conscious that there was something in the touch of Estenega's lips and hand that startled while it thrilled and enthralled.
The valley between the house and the Mission was alive with the immediate rancheros and their families, and the people of the town, aristocrats and populace. At Estenega's suggestion, I climbed with him to the attic of the tower, much to the detriment of my frock.
Thou art mighty, O Don Diego Estenega, but thou art powerless against the enmity of the Church. They are mightier than thou, and thou wilt never rule in California. Unhand my sister! Thou shalt not have her either. Thou shalt have nothing. Wilt thou unhand her?" he cried, enraged at Estenega's cold reception of his damnatory news. "Thou shouldst not have her if I tore thy heart from thy body."
When she awoke the next morning she was assailed by a distressing fear. Had she been to Estenega's room the night before? The memory was too vivid, the details too practical, for a sleep-vagary. At breakfast she hardly dared to raise her eyes. She felt that he was watching her; but he often watched her.
Rotscheff, who would much rather have left them at home, consented with good grace, and Estenega's spirits rose at once. He would have a talk with Chonita that night, something he had not dared to hope for, and he suspected that she had promoted the opportunity.
Even Estenega's face darkened: the traditions planted in plastic youth arose and rebelled at the desecration. "Some drunken sailors," he said. "There do you see that?" A craft rounded Point Lobos. "Pirates!" "Holy Mary!" exclaimed Chonita. "Let down your hair," he said, peremptorily; "and follow all that I suggest. We will drive them out." She obeyed him without question, excited and interested.
As he rose to go he threw his arm about Estenega's neck. "Ay! my friend! my friend!" he cried, "thou art all-powerful. Thou alone canst give me what I want." "Why did you never ask me for what you wanted?" asked Estenega. And he thought, "If it were not for Her, you would be on your way to Los Angeles to-night under charge of high treason. I would not have taken this much trouble with you."
The latter was conquered physically, but the dogged light of bigotry still burned in his eyes, although Estenega's were not agreeable to face. Estenega was furious.
But her face softened suddenly. "I will pray for you," she said, and turned to the man at her right. Estenega's face turned the chalky hue I always dreaded, and he bent his lips to her ear. "Pray for me many times a day; and at other times recall what I said about the relative value of possible and improbable heavens. You are a woman who thinks."
"It is thou who hast the honey on thy tongue, although I fear there may be a stone in thy heart." "Ah! Why? No stone could sit so lightly in my breast as my heart when those red lips smile to me." Chonita listened to this conversation with mingled amazement and anger. She did not doubt Estenega's sincerity to herself; neither did Valencia appear to doubt him.
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