"Very well, Antonia! It is easy to say 'Oh, Iza'; but what would you
have done? And reflect on this; no one, not even Rachela, saw him. So
then, our angels were quite agreeable and willing. And I--I was in such
joy, that I went straight in and told Holy Maria of my happiness. But
when a person has not been in love, how can they know; and I see that
you are going to say as Sister Sacrementa said to Lores Valdez--'You are
a wicked girl, and such things are not to be spoken of!'" 

"Oh, my darling one, I am not so cruel. I think you did nothing very
wrong, Iza. When love comes into your soul, it is like a new life. If it
is a pure, good love, it is a kind of murder to kill it in any way." 

"It has just struck me, Antonia, that you may be in love also." 

"When I was in New York, our brother Jack had a friend, and he loved me,
and I loved him." 

"But did grandmamma let him talk to you?" 

"He came every night. We went walking and driving. In the summer we
sailed upon the river; in the winter we skated upon the ice. He helped
me with my lessons. He went with me to church." 

"And was grandmamma with you?" 

"Very seldom. Often Jack was with us; more often we were quite alone." 

"Holy Virgin! Who ever heard tell of such good fortune? Consuelo
Ladrello had never been an hour alone with Don Domingo before they were
married." 

"A good girl does not need a duenna to watch her; that is what I think.
And an American girl, pure and free, would not suffer herself to be
watched by any woman, old or young. Her lover comes boldly into her
home; she is too proud, to meet him in secret." 

"Ah! that would be a perfect joy. That is what I would like! But fancy
what Rachela would say; and mi madre would cover her eyes and refuse
to see me if I said such words. Believe this. It was in the spring Luis
told me that he loved me, and though I have seen him often since, he

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