Margaret Tudor: A Romance of Old St. Augustine

  CHAPTER IX.

  Many days have passed since I began to write these pages.

  All the morning after that terrible night, with Barbara I waitedfearfully for some manifestation of Dona Orosia's anger. But there wasnone, nor were we summoned out that day. Food was brought to us, and weremained like prisoners in our chamber. Don Pedro was very low, theservant told us, and the Governor's lady was nursing him.

  A week went by,--the longest week I had ever known,--and then we heardthat Melinza would recover. However, it was not until he had lain ill afortnight that Dona Orosia came to visit me.

  I was sitting by the window with my head upon my hand, and Barbara wasputting some stitches in the worn places in her gown, when the dooropened to admit my hostess.

  She came straight toward me with a glint of anger in her dark eyes. Thelong nights of anxious watching had driven back the blood from hersmooth olive cheek, and the red lips showed the redder for herunaccustomed pallor. She laid one hand on my head, tilting it backward.

  "You little white-faced fool! I would you had never set foot in thistown," she cried bitterly.

  "Ah! madame, I came not of my own free will," I answered her. "I and mydear love would willingly go hence, an you gave us the means to do so!"

  "'Tis likely that we shall, truly," she replied. "'Tis likely that theGovernor of San Augustin will keep a galley to ply up and down the coastfor the convenience of you English intruders! There came two more of youthis morning, from the friar at Santa Catalina."

  "Two more English prisoners!" I exclaimed. "Who are they, madame?"

  "I know not, and I care not," she said. "I meddle not with things thatdo not concern me. I come here now but to hear how you came to be on thestreets at midnight. Had I been in the Governor's place then, I wouldhave shut the door in your face."

  I told her the truth, as it had happened to me; and when she had heardit her brow lightened somewhat.

  "Are you deceiving me? You did not leave here till _after_ the duel hadtaken place?"

  "Madame," I said, "I have never yet told a lie, and I would not now wereit to save my life."

  Her lip curled slightly as she turned to go. "Stir not from this room,then, until Don Pedro is well enough to leave the house," she said. "IfI could prevent it he should never look upon your face again." Shepaused an instant, then added: "I _will_ prevent it!"

  "Amen to that!" I said, and I felt the blood burn warmly in my cheek.

  She turned and looked at me, and I met her gaze with defiant eyes.

  "Amen to that, madame!--for truly I hate him with all my heart!"

  She stood still, a slow crimson rising in her pale face, and I trembleda little at my own daring. Then, to my surprise, she laughed at me.

  "You think that you hate him desperately?" she exclaimed. "Silly child,it is not in thy power to hate that man as I do, as I have done foryears!" and with that she went away and left me wondering.