"But if you had never seen a dance, would you miss dancing? My mother's people were priests; she was to have been a nun. My blood and my teaching have been of the church. My life has been lived in one little narrow strip of the world. All at once the world changed. Sometimes it bewilders me, this change. You say 'happy,' but I don't think I know that word as you know it. Maybe I never shall learn it--who knows? But I can find work for the Church even here in the world, and you will all be my good friends, and--I shall be content." Dona Luisa had entered the room while she was speaking, and nodded her approval. "Content? You will be happy, my child; you will be with Rafael! Have you seen the chest of the _donas_? Is it not handsome? If we only had the key!" "There is a little silver key on the shrine," said Dolores, and ran to get it. "Aha! On the shrine of the Virgin!" said Dona Luisa. "Is that not love, Raquelita?" "I am willing to believe it," she said, and took the little key, only to hand it back to Dolores. "You open it--and may you be the next happy bride!" Dolores rushed to unlock the chest, and Madalena to lift the lid, and Ana, as well as the older women, exclaimed at the richness of the contents. "Ai! Raquel Estevan, thou happy one!" cried Ana; "you have more luck than a queen!" They pulled out embroideries and laces and jewels, with little shrieks of ecstasy at the beauty and fineness of them. Raquel looked on, smiling at their delight. "Aha! is not that a lover, Raquelita?" repeated Dona Luisa. "Bring me the mantillas. Those two are for the bridesmaids; see how they look on Madalena and Dolores--fine--fine! And here is the wedding-veil--and the shoes, and the rosary--not anything is forgotten! He is so dear, so good--my Rafael!" The girls insisted on placing the wreath and veil on Raquel's head, but she broke from them at sight of a silken scarf of green and red and white. "Ah! more than all the jewels!" she cried, and clasped it to her bosom. "The flag of my own Mexico! I will love him for that--I will love him with all my heart!" "Ah! thou hast said it at last," said Dona Luisa, in triumph; "never forget thou hast said it!" "When I say it," whispered Dolores to Ana, "it will be to the man, not to his mother." "Come to me, daughter," said Dona Luisa, sinking back into a chair. "The heart feels--feels almost too happy! My dear Raquel--my dear Rafael!" "The Americanos will be crazy to see this wedding in the old California fashion," said Madalena, adjusting Raquel's veil caressingly. "Senora Bryton would give her two ears--ouch! Dona Ana, you break my arm!" "Give thanks it is not your neck, babbler!" muttered Ana. Dona Luisa looked at the two intently a moment. "Who is the American senora of the two ears?" she inquired; "and why should the wedding of my son have interest for such--persons?"