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Updated: June 22, 2025
A week went by, the longest week I had ever known, and then we heard that Melinza would recover. However, it was not until he had lain ill a fortnight that Doña Orosia came to visit me. I was sitting by the window with my head upon my hand, and Barbara was putting some stitches in the worn places in her gown, when the door opened to admit my hostess.
Against the slight railing of the little pavilion leaned Doña Orosia, strangely fair in a gown of black lace and primrose yellow, that transformed the soft contours of her throat and cheek from pale olive to the purest pearl. She deigned to bestow but a single cold, unfriendly glance upon me; then she bent forward as before, her lifted fan shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun-kissed sea.
Suddenly, without the door, sounded voices in altercation, and a servant entered, protesting with many apologies that there was a reverend father without who demanded to see his Excellency at once on a matter that would brook no delay. The Governor leaned back in his chair with an air of great annoyance; but Doña Orosia said quickly, "Bid the father enter."
I screamed and fled, but he called after me in Spanish. The words were strange to me but the tones of his voice and the coarse laughter needed no interpreter! As I flew across the garden, too frightened to attempt concealment, Doña Orosia stepped out into the courtyard and demanded an explanation.
Then she clapped her hands, and the negro servant came and at her command dragged away the carcass, wiped the bloody floor, and brought a basin of clear water and a linen cloth to bathe the scratch on her hand. When he had gone she made me bind it up with her broidered kerchief and stamped her foot because I drew the knot over-tight. "Doña Orosia," I said, when I had done it to her liking.
"I'd never suffer thee to live here, my fairest lady, where yon dark devil of a woman could vent her spite on thee!" he whispered softly; and my conscience smote me, for I was playing with a man's heart, of flesh and blood. But I bethought me, if there was in truth any good in that heart, I would dare appeal to it; for I mistrusted that at any time Doña Orosia would break her promised word.
When we reached my chamber she bade me change my dress again for something dark and warm; for the night air was damp and chill. As I did so I slipped within my bosom the roll of closely written pages containing these annals of my prisonment. Then I asked for Barbara, and Doña Orosia quietly replied, "She has gone upon an errand and will join us in due time."
In the past six months I have so far mastered the Spanish tongue that now I can converse in it with more ease than in the French. The Governor declares that I have the true intonation; and even Doña Orosia admits that I have shown some aptitude. I care nothing for it as a mere accomplishment; but I hope that the knowledge may be of use if ever we attempt escape.
Doña Orosia looked around, with quick eyes taking in every detail; then she turned to Padre Felipe. "Can you trust the bearers?" He bowed his head. "Then the only difficulty is this old woman. Better to leave her behind." But again I pleaded most earnestly; and presently the friar left the room and returned soon after with a dingy cloak, with which he enveloped the poor dame from head to foot.
I watched the dark shadow settling on her brow, and I thought all hope was over. "Doña Orosia," I said at last, "will you lend me your dagger?" "Not yet, child not unless there is no other way to thwart them both. Look " she said, and threw a purse of gold pieces on the bed beside me. "This is your purchase money, and 'twill serve to buy assistance.
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