Mercedes appeared to be uninterested in aught that was passing around. Her air was that of one a little "out of sorts"--as was shown by the cold salutations she exchanged with the "caballeros" encountered upon the way, and who one and all seemed to court a more cordial "buenas dias." Only once did she show sign of being interested:--when an American officer in the uniform of the Mounted Rifles came galloping along the street. Then only during the six seconds spent in scrutinising him, as he swept past; after which her eyes once more turned towards the Cathedral. Its massive door stood open to admit the early devotees, who were by this time swarming up the steps. The sisters became part of the throng, and passed on inside--Tia Josefa closely following, and keeping up her espionage with as much strictness, as while passing along the streets! I did the same--with a different intent. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. AT MATINS. It was the first time I had made my devotions in a Roman Catholic Cathedral; and I shall not say that I then worshipped as I should have done. Santa Gaudalupe--beautiful as the sensuous Mexican priesthood have had the cunning to conceive her--glorious as she appeared in her golden shrine--was scarce regarded by me. More attractive were the black lace shawl and high comb of Mercedes Villa-Senor--not for themselves, but for the lovely countenance I knew to be underneath them. I watched them with eyes that wandered not. In my heart I anathematised them as the most detestable screens ever interposed between a lover's eye and its idol. While engaged in her devotions a Mexican _senorita_ assumes three distinct attitudes. She stands, she kneels, she _squats_. I regret my inability to express in more elegant phrase, that peculiar species of genuflexion, which may be described as the dropping down from the kneeling attitude to one a degree lower. It is a feat of feminine gymnastics that has long mystified me; and I am not anatomist enough either to comprehend or explain it. Mercedes Villa-Senor appeared perfect in every _pose_. Even her _squatting_ was graceful! I watched her changing attitudes as the ceremony proceeded--the chant, the prayer, the lesson. During all these she never once looked round. I thought she must be a _saint_--a thought scarce in keeping with the conjectures I had hitherto shaped concerning her. It gave me but slight pleasure to think she was so holy. I should have preferred finding her human--that angel of angels! Dolores appeared less devout. At all events, she was less attentive to her prayers. Twenty times I perceived her eyes averted from the altar-- turned toward the doorway--peering into shadowy aisles--looking everywhere but upon the officiating priest. His shaven crown had no attraction for her. She searched for the shining curls of "querido Francisco!" He was not in the Cathedral--at least, I could not see him. I had my own thoughts about the cause of his absence.