 5 The room in which Father Salvador always slept when at the Senora Moreno's house was the southeast corner room. It had a window to the south and one to the east. When the first glow of dawn came in the sky, this eastern window was lit up as by a fire. The Father was always on watch for it, having usually been at prayer for hours. As the first ray reached the window, he would throw the casement wide open and standing there with bared head, strike up the melody of the sunrise hymn sung in all devout Mexican families. It was a beautiful custom, not yet wholly abandoned. At the first dawn of light, the oldest member of the family arose and began singing some hymn familiar to the household. It was the duty of each person hearing it to immediately rise or at least sit up in bed and join in the singing. In a few moments the whole family would be singing and the joyous sounds pouring out from the house like the music of the birds in the fields at dawn. The hymns were usually invocations to the virgin or to the saint of the day and the melodies were sweet and simple. On this morning there was another watcher for the dawn besides Father Salvedera. It was Alessandro, who had been restlessly wandering about since midnight and had finally seated himself under the willow trees by the brook at the spot where he had seen Ramona the evening before. He recollected this custom of the sunrise hymn when he and his band were at the sonoras last year and he had chanced then to learn that the father slept in the southeast room. From the spot where he sat he could see the south window of this room. He could also see the low eastern horizon at which a faint luminous line already showed. The sky was like amber, a few stars still shown, faintly in the zenith. There was not a sound. It was one of those rare moments in which one can without difficulty realize the noiseless spinning of the earth through space. Alessandro knew nothing of this. He could not have been made to believe that the earth was moving. He thought the sun was coming up a pace and the earth was standing still, a belief just as grand, just as thrilling, so far as all that goes, as the other. Men worship the sun long before they found out that it stood still. Not the most reverent astronomer, with the mathematics of the heavens at his tongue's end, could have had more delight in the wondrous phenomenon of the dawn than did this simple-minded, unlearned man. His eyes wandered from the horizon line of slowly increasing light to the windows of the house, yet dark and still. Which window is hers? Will she open it when the song begins, he thought? Is it on this side of the house? Who can she be? She was not here last year. Saw the saints ever so beautiful a creature. At last came the full red ray across the meadow. Alessandro sprang to his feet. In the next second Father Salvador flung open his south window and, leaning out, his cowl thrown off, his thin gray lock streaming back, began in a feeble but not a melodious voice to sing. Oh beautiful queen, princess of heaven. Before he had finished the second line, a half-dozen voices had joined in. The senora from her room at the west end of the veranda, beyond the flowers. Felipe from the adjoining room. Ramona from hers, the next. And Margarita and the other maids already astir in the wings of the house. As the volume of melody swelled, the canaries waked and the finches and the linens in the veranda roof. The tiles of this roof were bundles of tule reeds, in which the linens delighted to build their nests. The roof was alive with them. Scores and scores, nay hundreds, tame as chickens. Their tiny shrill twitter was like the tuning of myriads of violins. Singers at dawn from the heavens above, people all regions, gladly we too sing, continued the hymn, the birds corroborating the stanza. Then the men's voices joined in, Juan and Luigo, and a dozen more, walking slowly up from the sheet folds. The hymn was a favorite one, known to all. Come, O sinners, come and we will sing tender hymns to our refuge. Was the chorus repeated after each of the five verses of the hymn. Alessandro also knew the hymn well. His father, Chief Pablo, had been the leader of the choir at the San Luis Ray Mission, in the last year of its splendor, and had brought away with him much of the old choir music. Some of the books had been written by his own hand on parchment. He not only sang well, but was a good player on the violin. There was not at any of the missions so fine a band of performers on string instruments, as at San Luis Ray. Father Pedy was passionately fond of music, and spared no pains in training all the neophytes under his charge, who showed any special talent in that direction. Chief Pablo, after the breaking up of the mission, had settled at Temacula, with a small band of his Indians, and endeavored, so far as was in his power, to keep up the old religious services. The music in the little chapel of the Temacula Indians was a surprise to all who heard it. Alessandro had inherited his father's love and talent for music, and knew all the old mission music by heart. This, the hymn to the beautiful queen, Princess of Heaven, was one of his special favorites, and as he heard verse after verse rising he could not forebear striking in. At the first notes of this rich new voice Ramona's voice ceased in surprise, and throwing up her window she leaned out eagerly looking in all directions to see who it could be. Alessandro saw her and sang no more. What could it have been? Did I dream it? thought Ramona, drew in her head and began to sing again. With the next stanza of the chorus the same rich baritone notes, they seemed to float in under all the rest and bear them along as a great wave bears about. Ramona had never heard such a voice. Felipe had a good tenor, and she liked to sing with him, or to hear him. But this, this was from another world, this sound. Ramona felt every note of it penetrating her consciousness with a subtle thrill almost like pain. When the hymn ended, she listened eagerly, hoping Father Salvedero would strike up the second hymn, as he often did. But he did not this morning. There was too much to be done. Everybody was in a hurry to be at work. Windows shut, doors opened, the sound of voices from all directions, ordering, questioning, answering, began to be heard. The sun rose and let a flood of work-a-day light on the whole place. Margarita ran and unlocked the chapel door, putting up a heartfelt thanksgiving to St. Francis and the senorita, as she saw the snowy altar cloth in its place, looking, from that distance at least, as good as new. The Indians and the shepherds and laborers of all sort were coming towards the chapel. The senora, with her best black silk handkerchief, bound tight around her forehead, the ends hanging down each side of her face, making her look like an Assyrian priestess, was descending the veranda steps, Philippe at her side, and Father Salvedero had already entered the chapel before Ramona appeared, where Alessandro stirred from his vantage post of observation at the Willows. When Ramona came out from the door, she bore in her hands a high silver urn filled with ferns. She had been for many days gathering and hoarding these. They were hard to find, growing only in one place in Iraqi canyon, several miles away. As she stepped from the veranda to the ground, Alessandro walked slowly up the garden walk, facing her. She met his eyes, and, without knowing why, thought, that must be the Indian who sang. As she turned to the right and entered the chapel, Alessandro followed her hurriedly, and knelt on the stones close to the chapel door. He would be near when she came out. As he looked in at the door, he saw her glide at the aisle, placed the ferns on the reading desk, and then kneeled down by Philippe in front of the altar. Philippe turned toward her, smiling slightly, with a look as of secret intelligence. Ah, Senor Philippe has married, she is his wife, thought Alessandro, and a strange pain seized him. He did not analyze it. He hardly knew what it meant. He was only twenty-one. He had not thought much about women. He was a distant, cold boy, his own people of the Tamakula village, said. It had come, they believed, of learning to read, which was always bad. Chief Pablo had not done his son any good by trying to make him like white men. If the fathers could have stayed, and the life of the mission have gone on, why Alessandro could have had work to do for the fathers, as his father before him. Pablo had been Father Pele's right-hand man in the mission, had kept all the accounts about the cattle, paid the wages, handled thousands of dollars of gold every month. But that was in the time of the king. It was very different now. The Americans would not let an Indian do anything but plow and sow and herd cattle. A man need not read and write to do that. Even Pablo sometimes doubted whether he had done wisely in teaching Alessandro all he knew himself. Pablo was, for one of his rays, wise and far-seeing. He perceived the danger threatening his people on all sides. Father Pele, before he left the country, had said to him, Pablo, your people will be driven like sheep to the slaughter unless you keep them together. Knit firm bonds between them, ban them into pueblos, make them work, and above all keep peace with the whites. It's your only chance. Most strenuously Pablo had striven to obey Father Pele's directions. He had set his people the example of constant industry working steadily in his fields and caring well for his herds. He had built a chapel in his little village and kept up forms of religious service there. Whenever there were troubles with the whites or rumors of them, he went from house to house, urging, persuading, commanding his people to keep the peace. At one time when there was an insurrection of some of the Indian tribes farther south and for a few days it looked as if there would be a general Indian war, he removed the greater part of his band, men, women, and children driving their flocks and herds with them to Los Angeles and camp there for several days that they might be identified with the whites in case hostilities became serious. But his labors did not receive the reward that they deserved, with every day that the intercourse between his people and the whites increased he saw the whites gaining, his people surely losing ground and his anxieties deepened. The Mexican owner of the Temacula Valley, a friend of Fr. Perez and a good friend also of Pablo's had returned to Mexico in disgust with the state of affairs in California and was reported to be lying at the point of death. This man's promise to Pablo that he and his people should always live in the valley undisturbed was all the title Pablo had to the village lands. In the days when the promise was given it was all that was necessary. The Indians marking off the Indians lands were surveyed and put on the map of the estate. No Mexican proprietor ever broke faith with an Indian family or village, thus placed on his lands. But Pablo had heard rumors, which greatly disquieted him, that such pledges and surveyed lines as these were coming to be held as of no value, not binding on purchasers of grants. He was intelligent enough to see that if this were so, he and his people were ruined. All these perplexities and fears he confided to Alessandro. Long anxious hours the father and son spent together, walking back and forth in the village or sitting in front of their little adobe house, discussing what could be done. There was always the same ending to the discussion, a long sigh, and we must wait, we can do nothing. No wonder Alessandro seemed to the more ignorant and thoughtless young men and women of his village, a cold and distant lad. He was made old before his time. He was carrying in his heart burdens of which they knew nothing. So long as the wheat fields came up well, and there was no drought, and the horses and sheep had good pasture, in plenty, in the hills, the temacula people could be merry, go day by day to their easy work, play games at sunset, and sleep around all night. But Alessandro and his father looked beyond, and this was the one great reason why Alessandro had not yet thought about women in the way of love. This, and also the fact that even the little education he had received was sufficient to raise a slight barrier of which he was unconsciously aware between him and the maidens of the village. If a quick, warm fancy for any one of them ever stirred in his veins, he found himself soon, he knew not how, cured of it. For a dance, or a game, or a friendly chat, for the trips into the mountains after acorns or to the marshes for grasses and reeds, he was their good comrade, and they were his, but never had the desire to take one of them for his wife entered into Alessandro's mind. The vista of the future, for him, was filled by thoughts which left room for love's dreaming. One purpose, and one fear, filled it. The purpose to be his father's worthy successor, for Pablo was old now, and very feeble. The fear, that exile and ruin were in store for them all. It was of these things he had been thinking as he walked alone, in advance of his men, on the previous night, when he first saw Ramona kneeling at the brook. Between that moment and the present, it seemed to Alessandro that strange miracle must have happened to him. The purpose and the fears had a light gone. A face replaced them. A vague wonder, pain, joy, he knew not what, filled him so to overflowing that he was bewildered. If he had been what the world calls a civilized man, he would have known instantly, and would have been capable of weighing, analyzing and reflecting on his sensations at leisure. But he was not a civilized man. He had to bring to bear on his present situation only simple, primitive, uneducated instincts and impulses. If Ramona had been a maiden of his own people or race, he would have drawn near to her as quickly as iron to the magnet. But now, if he had gone so far as to even think of her in such a way, she would have been, to his view, as far removed from him as was the morning star beneath his radiance, he had that morning watched, hoping for sight of her at her window. He did not, however, go so far as to think thus of her. Even that would have been impossible. He only knelt on the stones outside the chapel door, mechanically repeating the prayers with the rest, waiting for her to reappear. He had no doubt, now, that she was Senior Felipe's wife. All the same, he wished to kneel there till she came out, that he might see her face again. His vista of purpose, fear, hope, had narrowed now down to that, just one more sight of her. Ever so civilized, he could hardly have worshipped a woman better. The mass seemed to him endlessly long. Until near the last, he forgot to sing. Then, in the closing of the final hymn, he suddenly remembered, and the clear, deep toned voice peeled out as before, like the undertone of a great sea wave, sweeping along. Ramona heard the first note and felt again the same thrill. She was as much a musician born as Alessandro himself. As she rose from her knees, she whispered to Felipe. Felipe, do find out which one of the Indians it is has that superb voice. I never heard anything like it. Oh, that is Alessandro, replied Felipe. Oh, Pablo's son. He is a splendid fellow. Don't you recollect his singing two years ago? I was not here, replied Ramona. You can't. Ah, yes, so you were away. I had forgotten, said Felipe. Well, he was here, and they made him captain of the Shearing Band, though he was only twenty, and he managed the men splendidly. They saved nearly all their money to carry home, and I never knew them to do such a thing before. Father Salvador was here, which might have had something to do with it, but I think it was quite as much Alessandro. He plays the violin beautifully. I hope he has brought it along. He plays the old San Luis Ray music. His father was bandmaster there. Ramona's eyes kindled with pleasure. Does your mother like it to have him play? She asked. Felipe nodded. We'll have him up on the veranda tonight, he said. While this whispered colloquy was going on, the chapel had emptied, the Indians and Mexicans all hurring out to set about the day's work. Alessandro lingered at the doorway as long as he dared, till he was sharply called by Juan Canito looking back. What are you gaping at there? You, Alessandro, hurry, now, and get your men to work. After waiting till mid-summer for this Shearing, we'll make as quick work of it as we can. Have you got your best Shears here? I, that I have, answered Alessandro. Not a man of them but can Shear his hundred in a day. There is not such a band as ours in all San Diego County, and we don't turn out the Sheep while bleeding either. You'll see scarce a scratch on their sides. Hmm, reported Juan Can, to the poor Shear indeed that draws blood to speak of, I've sheared many a thousand Sheep in my day and never a red stain on the Shears, but the Mexicans have always been famed for good Shears. Juan's invidious emphasis on the word Mexicans did not escape Alessandro. And we Indians also, he answered good-naturedly, betraying no annoyance. But as for these Americans, I saw one at work the other day, that man, Lomax, who settled near Temecula, and upon my faith Juan Can, I thought it was a slaughter pen and not a Shearing. The poor beast limped off with the blood running. Juan did not see his way clear at the moment to any fitting rejoinder to this easy assumption on Alessandro's part of the equal superiority of Indians and Mexicans in the Sheep Shearing art. So much vexed with another, hmm, he walked away, walked away so fast that he lost the sight of a smile on Alessandro's face, which would have vexed him still further. At the Sheep Shearing Sheds and pens, all was a stir and bustle. The Shearing Shed was a huge caricature of a summer house, a long, narrow structure, 60 feet long by 20 or 30 wide, all roof and pillars, no walls, the supports, slender, rough posts, as far apart as was safe for the upholding of the roof, which was of rough planks loosely laid from being to being. On three sides of these were the sheep pens filled with sheep and lambs. A few rods away stood the booze in which the Shears food was to be cooked and the Shears food. These were mere temporary affairs, roofed only by willow boughs with leaves left on. Near these the Indians had already arranged their camp. A hut or two of green boughs had been built, but for the most part they would sleep rolled up in their blankets on the ground. There was a brisk wind and the gay colored wings of the windmill blew furiously round and round, pumping out into the tank below a stream of water so swift and that as the men crowded around, wetting and sharpening their knives, they got well splattered and had much merriment pushing and elbowing each other into the spray. A four high poster frame stood close to the shed. In this swung from the four corners hung one of the great sacking bags in which the fleeces were to be packed. A big pile of bags lay on the ground at the foot of the posts. Juan Can eyed them with a chuckle. We'll fill more than those before tonight, Señor Felipe, he said. He was in his element, Juan Can at shearing times. Then came his reward for the somewhat monotonous and stupid year's work. The world held no better feast for his eyes than the sight of a long row of bales of fleece, tied, stamped with the Moreno brand, ready to be drawn away to the mills. Now there is something substantial, he thought, no chance of wool going amiss in market. If a year's crop were good, Juan's happiness was assured for the next six months. If it proved poor, he turned to vow immediately and spent the next six months calling on the saints for better luck and redoubling his exertions with the sheep. On one of the posts of the shed, short projecting slats were nailed, like half rounds of a ladder. Lightly as a rope walker, Felipe ran up these to the roof and took his stand there, ready to take the fleeces and pack them in the bag as fast as they should and passed up from below. Luigo, with a big leathern wallet fastened in front of him, filled with five scent pieces, took his stand in the center of the shed. The thirty shears running into the nearest pen, dragging each his sheep into the shed in a twinkling of an eye, had the creature between his knees, helpless, immovable, and the sharp sound of the shears set in. The sheep shearing had begun, no rest now, not a second silence from the bleating, buying, opening and shutting, clicking and sharpening of shears, flying of fleeces through the air to the roof, pressing and stamping them down into the bales, not a second's intermission, except the hour of rest at noon from sunrise till sunset, till the whole eight thousand of the Señor Moreno sheep were shorn. As soon as the sheep were shorn, the shear ran with the fleece in his hand to Luigo, on a table, received his five cent piece, dropped it in his pocket, ran to the pen, dragged out another sheep, and in less than five minutes was back again with the second fleece. The shorn sheep, released, bounded off into another pen, where, light in the head, no doubt from being three to five pounds lighter on their legs, they trotted round bewilderedly for a moment, then flung up their heels lost from the fleeces and the trampling feet filled the air. As the sun rose higher in the sky the sweat poured off the men's faces, and Felipe, standing without shelter on the roof, found out very soon that he had by no means yet got back his full strength since the fever. Long before noon, except for sheer pride, and for the recollection of one Caneto speech, he would have come down and yielded his place to the old man, and he worked on, though his face was purple and his head throbbing. After the bag of fleeces is half full, the packer stands in it, jumping with his full weight on the wool as he throws in the fleeces to compress them as much as possible. When Felipe began to do this he found that he had indeed overrated his strength. As the first cloud of the sickening dust came up, enveloping his head, choking his breath, he turned suddenly dizzy Juan, I am ill, sank helpless down in the wool. He had fainted. At Juan Caneto's scream of dismay a great hubbub and outcry arose. All saw instantly what had happened. Felipe's head was hanging limp over the edge of the bag, Juan in vain, endeavoring to get sufficient foothold by his side to lift him. One after another the men rushed up the ladder until they were all standing, a helpless excited crowd on the roof, one proposing one thing, one another. Only the Uigo had the presence of mind to run to the house for help. The Senora was away from home. She had gone with Father Salvador to a friend's house, a half day's journey off. But Ramona was there. Snatching all she could think of in the way of restoratives, she came flying back with the Uigo, followed by every servant of the establishment, all talking, groaning, gesticulating, suggesting, in their hands. As disheartening a babble as ever made Badmothers worse. Reaching the shed, Ramona looked up to the roof bewildered. Where is he? she cried. The next instant she saw his head, held in Juan Canito's arms, just above the edge of the wool bag. She groaned. Oh, how will he ever be lifted out? I will lift him Senora, cried Alessandro, coming to the front. I am very strong. I will bring him safe down. And, swinging himself down the ladder, he ran swiftly to the camp and returned, bringing in his hand, blankets. Springing quickly to the roof again, he nodded the blankets firmly together and tying them at the middle around his waist through the ends to his men, telling them to hold him firm. He spoke in the Indian tongue as he was hurriedly doing this. And Ramona did not at first understand his plan. But when she saw, he just moved a little back from the edge of the roof, holding the blankets firm grass. While Alessandro stepped out on one of the narrow cross beams from which the bag swung, she saw what he meant to do. She held her breath. Felipe was a slender man. Alessandro was much heavier and many inches taller. Still, could any man carry such a burden safely on that narrow beam? Ramona looked away and shut her eyes through the silence which followed. There were only a few moments, but it seemed an eternity before a glad murmur of voices told her that it was done. And looking up, she saw Felipe lying on the roof, unconscious, his face white, his eyes shut. At this site, all the servants broke out of fresh, weeping and wailing. He is dead, he is dead. Ramona stood motionless. Her eyes fixed on Felipe's face. She, too, believed him dead. He is not dead, called Juan Canito, who had thrust his hand on Felipe's shirt. He is not dead, he had his only effaint. At this, the first tears rolled down Ramona's face. She looked piteously at the ladder up and down which she had seen Alessandro run as if it were an indoor staircase. If only I could get up there, she said, looking from one to another. I think I can. And she put one foot on the lower round. Holy Virgin, cried Juan Can, seeing her movement. Senorita, Senorita do not attempt it. It is not too easy for a man. You will break your net. He is fast coming to his senses. Alessandro caught the words. Despite of all the confusion and terror of the scene, his heart heard the word Senorita. Ramona was not the wife of Felipe or of any man. Yet Alessandro recollected that he had addressed her as Senora and not seemed surprised. Coming to the front of the group, he said, bending forward, Senorita, there must have been something in the tome which made Ramona start. The simple word could not have done it. Senorita, said Alessandro, it will be nothing to bring Senor Felipe down the ladder. He is, in my arms, no more than one of the lambs yonder. I will bring him down as soon as he has recovered. He is better here till then. He will very soon be himself again. It was only the heat. Seeing that the expression of anxious distress did not grow less on Ramona's face, he continued in a tone still more earnest. Well, not the Senorita trusts me to bring him safe down. Ramona smiled faintly through her tears. Yes, she said, I will trust you. You are Alessandro, are you not? Yes, Senorita. He answered, greatly surprised. I am Alessandro. Alessandro End of Chapter 5 Written by Mary Ann Spiegel in Chicago, Illinois June 28th, 2009 A good ending of the Senora Moreno's sheep-sharing this year. One, as superstitiously prejudiced against Roman Catholic rule as she was in favor of it, would have found in the way things fell out ample reason for a belief that the Senora was being punished for having let all the affairs of her place come to a standstill to await the coming of an old monk. But the pious Senora looking at the other side of the shield was filled with gratitude and the ill luck was to befall her. She had the good father Salverderra at her side to give her comfort and counsel. It was not quite noon of the first day when Felipe fainted and fell in the wool and it was only a little past noon of the third when Juan Canito who, not without some secret exultation, had taken Senor Felipe's place at the packing fell from the cross-beam to the ground and broke his right leg a bad break near the knee and Juan Canito's bones were much too old for fresh knitting he would never again be able to do more than hobble about on crutches dragging along the useless leg. It was a cruel blow to the old man he could not be resigned to it he lost faith in his saints and privately indulged in blasphemous beratings and reproaches of them which would have filled the Senora with terror and found that such blasphemies were being committed under her roof. As many times as I have crossed that plank in my day, cried Juan, only the fiends themselves could have made me trip and there was that whole box of candles I paid for with my own money last month and burned to St. Francis in the chapel for this very sheep shearing he may sit in the dark all for me to the end of time he is no saint at all not to keep us from harm when we pray to them I'll pray no more I believe the Americans are right who laugh at us from morning till night and nearly from night till morning for the leg ached so he slept little poor Juan groaned and grumbled and swore and grumbled and groaned taking care of him was enough Margarita said to wear out the patients of the Madonna herself there was no pleasing him as you did and his tongue was never still a minute for her part she believed that it must be as he said that the fiends had pushed him off the plank and that the saints had had their reasons for leaving him to his fate a coldness and suspicion gradually grew up in the minds of all the servants towards him his own reckless language combined with Margarita's reports gave the superstitious fair ground for believing that he was very seriously wrong and that the devil was in a fair way to get his soul which was very hard for the old man in addition to all the rest he had to bear the only alleviation he had for his torments was in having his fellow servants men and women drop in sit by his pallet and chat with him telling him all that was going on and when by degrees they dropped off coming more and more seldom it was the one drop that overflowed his cup of misery and he turned his face to the wall left off grumbling and spoke only when he must this phase frightened Margarita even more than the first now she thought surely the dumb terror and remorse of one who belongs to the devil had seized him and her hands trembled as she went through the needful ministrations for him each day three months at least the doctor who had come from Ventura to set the leg had said he must lie still in bed and be thus tended three months said Margarita if I be not dead or gone crazy myself before the end of that become the senora was too busy with Felipe to pay attention or to give thought to Juan Felipe's fainting had been the symptom and beginning of a fierce relapse of the fever and he was lying in his bed tossing and raving and the whole world was in a delirium always about the wall throw them faster faster that's a good fleece five pounds more around ton in those bales Juan, Alessandro, Captain Jesus how this son burns my head several times he had called Alessandro so earnestly that father Salvia del Dera advised bringing Alessandro to the room to see if by chance there might have been something in his mind that he wished to say to him but when Alessandro stood by the bed Felipe gazed at him vacantly as he did at all the others still repeating however Alessandro, Alessandro I think perhaps he wants Alessandro to play on his violin sobbed out Ramona he was telling me how beautifully Alessandro played and he said he would have him up on the veranda in the evening to play to us we might try it said father Salvia del Dera have you your violin here Alessandro alas no father replied Alessandro I did not bring it perhaps it would do him good if you were to sing then said Ramona he was speaking of your voice also oh try try said the señorita turning to Alessandro sing something low and soft Alessandro walked from the bed to the open window and after thinking for a moment began a slow strain from one of the masses at the first note Felipe became suddenly quiet evidently listening an expression of pleasure spread over his feverish face he turned his head to one side put his hand under his cheek and closed his eyes the three watching him looked at each other in astonishment it is a miracle said father Salvia del Dera he will sleep it was what he wanted whispered Ramona but buried her face in the bed closed for a second then lifting it she gazed at Alessandro as if she were praying to a saint he too saw the change in Felipe and sang lower and lower till the notes sounded if they came from afar lower and lower slower finally they ceased as if they died away lost in the distance as they ceased Felipe opened his eyes oh go on go on whisper shrill with anxiety do not stop Alessandro repeated the strain slow, solemn his voice trembled the air in the room seemed stifling despite of the open window he felt something like terror as he saw Felipe evidently sinking to sleep by reason of the notes of his voice there had been nothing in Alessandro's healthy outdoor experience to enable him to understand such a phenomenon Felipe breathed more and more slowly softly regularly soon he was in a deep sleep the singing stopped Felipe did not stir can I go? whispered Alessandro no no replied the senora impatiently he may wake in any minute Alessandro looked troubled but bowed his head submissively and remained standing by the window Father Salielderra was kneeling on one side of the bed the senora at the other while praying the silence was so great that the slight sounds of the rosary beads slipping against each other seemed loud in a niche in the wall at the head of the bed stood a statue of the Madonna on the other side a picture of Santa Barbara candles were burning before each the long wicks smoldered and died down sputtering then flared up again as the ends fell into the melted wax the senoras eyes were fixed on the Madonna the fathers were closed Ramona gazed at Felipe with tears streaming down her face as she mechanically told her beads she is his betrothed no doubt Alessandro the saints will not let him die and Alessandro also prayed but the oppression of the scene was too much for him laying his hand on the low window sill he vaulted over it saying to Ramona who turned her head at the sound I will not go away senorita I will be close under the window if he awakes once in the open air he drew a long breath and gazed bewilderedly about him like one just recovering consciousness after a faint then he threw himself on the ground under the window and lay looking up into the sky Capitan came up and with a low wine stretched himself out at full length by his side the dog knew as well as any other one of the house that danger and anguish were there one hour passed two still no sound from Felipe's room Alessandro rose and looked in at the window the father and the senorita had not changed their attitudes their lips were yet moving in prayer but Ramona had yielded to her fatigue slipped from her knees into a sitting posture with her head leaning against the post of the bedstead and fallen asleep her face was swollen and discolored by weeping and heavy circles under her eyes told how tired she was for three days and nights she had scarcely rested so constant were the demands on her between Felipe's illness and Juan Can's there was not a moment without something to be done or some perplexing question to be settled and above all and through all the terrible sorrow Ramona was broken down with grief at the thought of Felipe's death she had never known till she saw him lying there delirious and as she and her experienced thought dying how her whole life was entwined with his but now at the very thought of what it would be to live without him her heart sickened when he is buried I will ask Father Salvador to take me away I can never live here alone she said to herself never for a moment perceiving that the word alone was a strange one to have come into her mind in the connection the thought of the senora did not enter into her imaginations of the future which so smote her with terror in the senora's presence Ramona always felt herself alone Alessandro stood at the window his arms folded leaning on the sill his eyes fixed on Ramona's face and form to any other than a lover's eyes she had not looked beautiful now but to Alessandro she looked more beautiful than the picture of Santa Barbara on the wall beyond with a lover's instinct he knew the thoughts which had written such lines on her face in the last three days it will kill her if he dies he thought if these three days have made her look like that and Alessandro threw himself on the ground again his face down he did not know whether it were an hour or a day he had lain there when he heard Father Salvador's voice speaking his name he sprang up to see the old monk standing in the window tears running down his cheeks God be praised he said the senor Felipe will get well a sweat has broken out on his skin he still sleeps but when he wakes he will be in his right mind the strength of the fever is broken but Alessandro we know not how to spare you can you not let the men go without you and remain here the senora would like to have you remain in Juan Can's place till he is about she will give you the same wage as he had would it not be a good thing for you Alessandro you cannot be sure of earning so much as that for the next three months can you while the father was speaking a tumult had been going on and Alessandro's breast he did not know by name any of the impulses which were warring there tearing him in twain as it were by their pulling in opposite directions one saying stay and the other saying go he would not have known what anyone meant who had said to him it is danger to stay it is safety to fly all the same he felt as if he could do neither there is another shearing yet father he began at the Ortega's ranch I had promised to go to them as soon as I had finished here and they have been wroth enough with us for the delay already it will not do to break the promise father father Salvia de Rossface fell no my son certainly not he said but could no one else take your place with the band hearing these words Ramona came to the window and leaning out whispered are you talking about Alessandro staying let me come and talk to him he must not go and running swiftly through the hall across the veranda and down the steps she stood by Alessandro's side in a moment looking up in his face pleadingly she said we can't let you go Alessandro the senior will pay wages to some other to go in your place with the shearers we want you to stay in Juan Can's place till he is well don't say you can't stay Felipe may need you to sing again and what would we do then can't you stay yes I can stay senorita answered Alessandro gravely I will stay so long as you need me oh thank you Alessandro Ramona cried you are good to stay the senora will see that it is no loss to you and she flew back to the house it is not for the wages senorita Alessandro began but Ramona was gone she did not hear him and he turned away with a sense of humiliation I don't want the senorita to think that it was the money that kept me he said turning to father Salvir Derra I would not leave the band for money it is to help because they are in trouble father yes yes son I understand that replied the monk who had known Alessandro since he was a little fellow playing in the corridors of San Luis Ray the pet of all the brothers there that is quite right of you and the senora will not be insensible of it it is not for such things that money can pay they are indeed in great trouble now and only the two women in the house and I must soon be going on my way north again is it sure that senor Felipe will get well asked Alessandro I think so replied father Salvir Derra these relapses are always worse than the first attack but I have never known one to die after he had the natural sweat to break from the skin and got good sleep I doubt not that he will be in his bed though for many days and there will be much to be seen too it was an ill luck to have Juan Can laid up too just at this time I must go and see him I hear he is in the most rebellious frame of mind and blasphemes impiously that does he said Alessandro he swears the saints gave him over to the fiends to push him off the plank and he will have none of them from this out I told him to beware they might bring him to worse things yet if he did not meant his speech of them sighing deeply as they walked along the monk said it is but a sign of the times blasphemers are on the highway the people are being corrupted keeps your father the worship still and does a priest come off into the village? only twice a year replied Alessandro and sometimes for a funeral if there is enough money to pay for the mass but my father has the chapel open and each Sunday we sing what we know of the mass and the people are often there praying ay ay ever for money grown father salvia d'erre not heeding the latter part of the sentence ever for money it is a shame as a trespass I would go myself to Temecula once in three months but I may not the priests do not love our order oh if you could father exclaimed Alessandro it would make my father very glad he speaks often to me of the difference he sees between the words of the church now and in the days of the mission he's very sad father and in great fear about our village they say the Americans when they buy the Mexicans land Indians away as if they were dogs they say we have no right to our lands do you think that can be so father when we have always lived on them and the owners promised them to us forever father salvia d'erre was silent a long time before replying and Alessandro watched his face anxiously he seemed to be hesitating for words to convey his meaning at last he said got your father any notice at any time since the Americans took the country was to appear before a court or anything about a title to the land no father replied Alessandro there has to be some such paper as I understand their laws continued the monk some notice before any steps can be taken to remove Indians from an estate it must be done according to the law in the courts if you have had no such notice you're not in danger but father persisted Alessandro how could there be a law to take away Senor Valdez gave us forever gave he you any paper any writing to show it no no paper but it is marked in red lines on the map it was marked off by José Ramírez of Los Angeles when they marked all the boundaries of Senor Valdez's estate they had many instruments of brass and wood to measure with and a long chain very heavy which I helped them carry I myself thought marked on the map they all slept in my father's house Senor Valdez and Ramírez and the man who made the measures he hired one of our men to carry his instruments and I went to help for I wished to see how it was done but I could understand nothing and José told me that a man must study many years to learn the way of it it seemed to me our way by the stones was much better but I know it is all marked on the map for it was with a red line and my father understood it and José Ramírez and Senor Valdez both pointed to it with their finger and they said all this here is your land Pablo always I do not think my father need fear do you I hope not replied father Salvador cautiously but since the way that all the lands of the missions have been taken away I have small faith in the honesty of the Americans I think they will take all that they can the church has suffered terrible loss at their hands that is what my father says replied Alessandro he says look at San Luis Rey nothing but the garden and the orchard left of all their vast lands where they used to pasture 30,000 sheep if the church and the fathers could not keep their lands what can we Indians do that is what my father says true true said the monk as he turned into the door of the room where one can lay in a narrow bed longing yet sharing to see father Salvador's face coming in we are all alike helpless in their hands Alessandro they possess the country and can make what laws they please we can only say gods will be done and he crossed himself devoutly repeating the words twice Alessandro did the same and with a truly devout spirit for he was full of veneration for the fathers and their teachings but as he walked on towards the sharing shed he thought then again how can it be gods will that wrong be done it cannot be gods will that one man should steal from another all he has that would make god no better than a thief it looks to me but how can it happen if it is not gods will it does not need that one be educated to see the logic in this formula generations of the oppressed and despoiled before Alessandro had grappled with the problem in one shape or another at the sharing shed Alessandro found his men in confusion and ill humor the sharing had been over and done by ten in the morning and why were they not on their way to the Ortegas waiting all day it was now near sunset with nothing to do and still worse with not much of anything to eat had made them all cross and no wonder the economical one can finding that the work would be done by ten and supposing they would be off before noon had ordered only two sheep killed for them the day before and the mutton was all gone and old Marda getting her cue from Juan had cooked no more frijoles than the family needed themselves so the poor shearers had indeed had a sorry day of it in no wise alleviated either by the reports brought from time to time that their captain was lying on the ground face down under Señor Felipe's window and must not be spoken to it was not a propitious moment for Alessandro to make the announcement of his purpose to leave the band but he made a clean breast of it in a few words and diplomatically diverted all resentment from himself by setting them immediately to voting for a new captain to take his place for the remainder of the season very well they said hotly captain for this year captain for next two it wasn't so easy to step out and in again in the captaincy of Alessandro's orders all right said Alessandro please yourselves it's all the same to me but here I am going to stay for the present Father Salvier Derra wishes it oh if the father wishes it that is different ah that alters the case Alessandro's right came up in confused murmur from the appeased crowd they were all good Catholics every one of the Temecula men and would never think of going against the father's orders but I wanted that Alessandro's intention was to remain until Juan Canito's Lake should be well enough for him to go about again fresh grumblings began that would not do it would be all summer Alessandro must be at home for the St. Juan's Day fate in mid-summer no doing anything without Alessandro then what was he thinking of not of the mid-summer fate that was certain when he promised to stay as long as the senorita Ramona had made him Alessandro had remembered nothing except the senorita's voice while she was speaking to him if he had had a hundred engagements for the summer he would have forgotten them all now that he was reminded of the mid-summer fate it must be confessed he was for a moment dismayed at the recollection for that was a time when, as he well knew his father could not do without his help there were sometimes a thousand Indians at this fate Alessandro's clear path of duty lay at Temecula when that fate came off that was certain I will manage to be at home then he said if I am not through here by that time I will at least come for the fate that you may depend on the voting for the new captain did not take long there was in fact but one man in the band fit for the office that was Fernando the old man in the band all the rest were young men under 30 or boys Fernando had been captain for several years but had himself begged two years ago that the band would elect Alessandro in his place he was getting old and he did not like to have to sit up and walk about the first half of every night to see that the sharers were not gambling away all their money at cards he preferred to roll himself up in his bed at sunset and sleep till dawn in the next morning but just for these few remaining weeks he had no objection to taking the office again and Alessandro was right entirely right in remaining they all ought to see that Fernando said and his word had great weight with the men the senora Moreno he reminded them had always been a good friend of theirs and had said that so long as she had sheep to shear the Temecula sharers should do it and it would be very ungrateful now if they did not do all they could to help her in her need the blankets were rolled up the saddles collected the ponies caught and driven up to the shed when Ramona and Margarita were seen coming at full speed from the house Alessandro Alessandro cried Ramona out of breath I have only just now heard that the men have had no dinner today I am ashamed but you know it would not have happened except in the house everybody thought they were going away this morning now they must have a good supper before they go it is already cooking tell them to wait those of the men who understood the Spanish language in which Ramona spoke translated it to those who did not and there was a cordial outburst of thanks to the senorita from all lips all were only two ready to wait for the supper their haste to begin on the Ortega sheep shearing had suddenly faded from their minds only Alessandro hesitated it's a good six hours ride to the Ortegas he said to the men you'll be late in if you do not start now supper will be ready in an hour said Ramona please let them stay one hour can't make any difference Alessandro smiled it will take nearer to senorita before they are off he said but it shall be as you wish and many thanks to you senorita for thinking of it I did not think of it myself said Ramona it was Margarita here who came and told me she knew we would be ashamed to have the shearers go away hungry I'm afraid they're very hungry indeed she added ruefully it must be dreadful to go a whole day without anything to eat they had their breakfast soon after sunrise did they not yes senorita answered Alessandro but that is not long one can do without food very well for one day I often do often exclaim Ramona but why should you do that then suddenly be thinking herself she said in her heart oh what a thoughtless question can it be they're so poor as that and to save Alessandro from replying she set off on a run for the house saying come come Margarita we must go and help at the supper will the senorita let me help too ask Alessandro wondering at his own boldness if there's anything I can do oh no she cried there is not yes there is too you can help carry the things down to the booth for we're short of hands now with one con in bed and l'higu gone to ventura for the doctor you and some of your men might carry all the supper over I'll call you when we're ready the men sat down in a group and waited contentedly smoking chatting and laughing Alessandro walked up and down between the kitchen and the shed lots of rattling dishes jingling spoons frying pouring water savory smells began to be wafted out evidently old Margarita meant to atone for the shortcoming of the noon Juan Can in his bed also heard and smelled what was going on may the fiends get me he growled if that wasteful old hussy isn't getting up a feast for those beasts of Indians there's mutton and onions and pepper stewing and potatoes I'll be bound and God knows what else for beggars that are only too thankful to get a handful of roasted wheat or a bowl of acorn porridge at home well, they'll have to say they were well feasted at the Morenos that's one comfort I wonder if Margarita'll think I am worthy of tasting that stew San José, but it smells well Margarita! Margarita! he called at the top of his lungs but Margarita did not hear she was absorbed in her duties in the kitchen and having already taken Juan at sundown a bowl of the good broth which the doctor had said was the only sort of food he must eat for two weeks she had dismissed him from her mind for the night moreover Margarita was absent-minded tonight she was more than half in love with the handsome Alessandro who when he had been on the ranch the year before had danced with her and said many a light pleasant word to her evenings as a young man may now that he seemed when he saw her as if she were no more than a transparent shade through which he stared at the sky behind her she did not know Señor Felipe's illness she thought and the general misery and confusion had perhaps put everything else out of his head but now he was going to stay and it would be good fun having him there if only Señor Felipe got well which he seemed likely to do and as Margarita flew about here there and everywhere she cast frequent glances at the tall straight figure pacing up and down in the dusk outside Alessandro did not see her he did not see anything he was looking off at the sunset and listening Ramona had said I will call you when we are ready but she did not do as she said she told Margarita to call run Margarita she said all is ready now see if Alessandro is in sight call him to come and take the things so it was Margarita's voice and not Ramona's that called Alessandro Alessandro the supper is ready but it was Ramona who when Alessandro reached the doorway stood there holding in her arms a huge smoking platter of the stew which had so roused poor Juan Can's longings and it was Ramona who said as she gave it into Alessandro's hands take care Alessandro it is very full the gravy will run over if you are not careful you are not used to waiting on table and as she said it she smiled full into Alessandro's eyes a little flitting gentle friendly smile which went near to making him drop the platter mutton gravy and all then and there at her feet the men ate fast and greedily and it was not after all much more than an hour when full fed and happy they were mounting their horses to set off at the moment Alessandro drew one of them aside José he said whose horse is the faster yours or Antonio's mine promptly replied José mine by a great deal I will run Antonio any day he likes Alessandro knew this as well before asking as after but Alessandro was learning a great many things in these days among other things a little diplomacy he wanted a man to ride at the swiftest to Temecula and back he knew that José's pony could go like the wind he also knew that there was a perpetual feud of rivalry between him and Antonio in manner of the fleetness of their respective ponies so having chosen José for his messenger he went thus to work to make sure that he would urge his horse to its utmost speed whispering in José's ear a few words he said will you go I will pay you for the time all you could earn at the shearing will go said José elated you will see me back tomorrow by sundown not earlier asked Alessandro I thought by noon well by noon be it then said José the horse can do it have great care said Alessandro that will I replied José and giving his horses sides a sharp punch with his knees set off at a full gallop westward I have sent José with a message to Temecula said Alessandro walking up to Fernando he will be back here tomorrow noon and join you at the Ortegas the next morning back here by noon tomorrow exclaimed Fernando not unless he kills his horse that was what he said replied Alessandro nonchalantly easy enough to cried Antonio writing up on his little done mare I'd go in less time than that on this mare José's is no match for her and never was why did you not send me Alessandro is your horse really faster than José's said Alessandro then I wish I had sent you I'll send you next time End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of Ramona this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Margaret Espayat Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson Chapter 7 It was strange to see how quickly and naturally Alessandro fitted into his place in the household how tangles straightened out and rough places became smooth as he quietly took matters in hand luckily old Juan Can had always liked him and felt a great sense of relief at the news of his staying on not a wholly unselfish relief perhaps for since his accident Juan had not been without fears that he might lose his place altogether there was a Mexican he knew who had long been scheming to get the situation and had once openly boasted at a fandango where he was dancing with Anita that as soon as the superannuated old fool Juan Canito was out of the way he meant to be the Senor Moreno's head shepherd himself to have seen this man an authority on the place would have driven Juan out of his mind but the gentle Alessandro only an Indian and of course the Senor would never think of putting an Indian permanently in so responsible a position on the estate it was exactly as Juan would have wished and he fraternized with Alessandro hardly from the outset kept him in his room by the hour giving him hundreds of long-winded directions and explanations about things which if only he had known it Alessandro understood far better than he did Alessandro's father had managed the mission flocks and herds at San Luis Rey for twenty years few were as skillful as he he himself owned nearly as many sheep as the Senor Moreno but this Juan did not know neither did he realize that Alessandro as Chief Pablo's son had a position of his own not without dignity and authority to Juan an Indian was an Indian and that was the end of it the gentle courteousness of Alessandro's manner his quiet behavior were all set down in Juan's mind to the score of the boy's native amiability and sweetness if Juan had been told that the Senor Felipe himself had not been more carefully trained in all precepts of kindness honorable dealing and polite usage by the Senora his mother than had Alessandro by his father he would have opened his eyes wide the standards of the two parents were different to be sure but the advantage could not be shown to be entirely on the Senora's side there were many things that Felipe knew of which Alessandro was profoundly ignorant but there were others in which Alessandro could have taught Felipe and when it came to the things of the soul and of honor Alessandro's plane was the higher of the two Felipe was a fair minded honorable man as men go but circumstances and opportunity would have a hold on him they could never get on Alessandro Alessandro would not lie Felipe might Alessandro was by nature full of veneration and the religious instinct Felipe had been trained into being a good Catholic but they were both singularly pure-minded open-hearted generous sold young men and destined by the strange chance which had thus brought them into familiar relations to become strongly attached to each other after the day on which the madness of Felipe's fever had been so miraculously soothed and controlled by Alessandro's singing he was never again wildly delirious he waked in the night from that first long sleep he was as Father Salvador had predicted in his right mind knew everyone and asked rational questions but the overheated and excited brain did not for some time wholly resume normal action at intervals he wandered especially when just arousing from sleep and strangely enough it was always for Alessandro that he called it these times and it seemed always to be music that he craved he recollected Alessandro's having sung to him that first night I was not so crazy as you all thought, he said I knew a great many of the things I said but I couldn't help saying them and I heard Ramona ask Alessandro to sing and when he began I remember I thought the Virgin had reached down and put her hand on my head and cooled it on the second evening the first after the shearers had left Alessandro seeing Ramona in the veranda went to the foot of the steps and said, Señorita would Señor Felipe like to have me play on the violin to him tonight? why whose violin have you got? exclaimed Ramona, astonished my own, Señorita your own, I thought she said you did not bring it yes, Señorita that is true but I sent for it last night and it is here sent to Temecula and back already cried Ramona yes, Señorita our ponies are swift and strong I can go a hundred miles in a day and not suffer it was Jose brought it and he is at the Ortegas by this time Ramona's eyes glistened I wish I could have thanked him, she said you should have let me know he ought to have been paid for going I paid him, Señorita he went for me, said Alessandro with a shade of wounded pride in the tone which Ramona should have perceived but did not and went on hurting the lover's heart still more but it was for us that you sent for it Alessandro the Señorita would rather pay the messenger herself it is paid, Señorita it is nothing if the Señor Felipe wishes to hear the violin I will play and Alessandro walked slowly away Ramona gazed after him for the first time she looked at him with no thought of his being an Indian and thought there had surely been no need of her having since his skin was not a shade darker than Felipe's the race feeling that never till that moment had she forgotten it what a superb head and what a walk she thought then looking more observantly she said he walks as if he were offended he did not like my offerings to pay for the messenger he wanted to do it for dear Felipe I will tell Felipe and we will give him some present when he goes away isn't he splendid, Señorita came in a light laughing tone lips close to her ear in the fond freedom of their relation isn't he splendid and oh Señorita you can't think how he dances last year I danced with him every night he has wings on his feet for all he is so tall and big there was a coquettish consciousness in the girl's tone that was suddenly for some unexplained reason exceedingly displeasing to Ramona drawing herself away she spoke to Margarita in a tone that had never before in her life used it is not fitting to speak like that about young men the Señorita would be displeased if she heard you she said and walked swiftly away leaving poor Margarita as astounded as if she had got a box on the ear she looked after Ramona's retreating figure then after Alessandro's she had heard them talking together just before she came up thoroughly bewildered and puzzled she stood motionless for several seconds reflecting then shaking her head she ran away trying to dismiss the harsh speech from her mind Alessandro must have vexed the Señorita she thought to make her speak like that to me but the incident was not so easily dismissed from Margarita's thoughts many times in the day it recurred to her still a bewilderment and a puzzle as far from solution as ever it was a tiny seed whose name she did not dream of but it was dropped in soil where it would grow someday forcing how soil and a bitter seed and when it blossomed Ramona would have an enemy all unconscious equally of Margarita's heart and her own Ramona proceeded to Felipe's room Felipe was sleeping the Señorita sitting by his side as she had sat for days and nights her dark face looking thinner and more drawn each day her hair looking even wider if that could be and her voice growing hollow from faintness and sorrow Dear Senora, whispered Ramona do go out for a few moments while he sleeps and let me watch just on the walk in front of the veranda the sun is still lying there bright and warm you will be ill if you do not have air the Senora shook her head my place is here she answered speaking in a dry hard tone sympathy was hateful to the Senora Moreno she wished neither to give it nor take it I shall not leave him I do not need the air Ramona had a cloth of gold rose in her hand the veranda eaves were now shaded with him hanging down like a thick fringe of golden tassels it was the rose Felipe loved best stooping she laid it on the bed near Felipe's head he will like to see it when he wakes she said then flung it far out in the room take it away flowers are poison when one is ill she said coldly have I never told you that? no Senora replied Ramona meekly and she glanced involuntarily at the saucer of musk which the Senora kept on the table close to Felipe's pillow the musk is different said the Senora seeing the glance musk is a medicine it revives Ramona knew but she would have never said that Felipe hated musk many times he had said to her how he hated the odor but his mother was so fond of it that it must always be that the veranda in the house would be full of it Ramona hated it too at times it made her faint with a deadly faintness but neither she nor Felipe would have confessed as much to the Senora and if they had she would have thought it all a fancy shall I stay? asked Ramona gently the Senora the simple presence of Ramona irked her now with the feeling she did not pretend to analyze and would have been terrified at if she had she would not have dared to say to herself in plain words why is that girl well and strong and my Felipe lying here like to die if Felipe dies I cannot bear the sight of her what is she to be preserved of the saints but that or something like it was what she felt whenever Ramona entered the room still more whenever she assisted in ministering to Felipe if it had been possible the Senora would have had no hands but her own duet for her boy even tears from Ramona sometimes irritated her what does she know about loving Felipe he has nothing to her thought the Senora strangely mistaken strangely blind strangely forgetting how feeble is the tie of blood in the veins of the heart if into this fiery soul of the Senoras could have been dropped one seconds knowledge of the relative positions she and Ramona already occupied in Felipe's heart she would on the spot have either died herself or have slain Ramona one or the other but no such knowledge was possible no such idea could have found entrance into the Senora's mind a revelation from heaven of it could hardly have reached even her ears but her penitrable are the veils which fortunately for all of us are forever held by viewless hands between us and the nearest and closest of our daily companions at twilight of this day Felipe was restless and feverish again he had dosed at intervals all day long but had had no refreshing sleep sent for Alessandro he said let him come and sing to me he has his violin now he can play if you would like that better said Ramona and she related what Alessandro had told her of the messengers having ridden to Temecula and back in a night and half a day to bring it I wanted to pay the man she said I knew of course your mother would wish to reward him but I fancy Alessandro was offended he answered me shortly that it was paid and it was nothing you couldn't have offended him more said Felipe what a pity he is as proud as Lucifer himself Alessandro you know his father has always been the head of their band in fact he has authority over several bands general they call it now since they got the title from the Americans they used to call it chief and until Father Peri left San Luis Re Pablo was in charge of all the sheep and general steward and paymaster Father Peri trusted him with everything I've heard he would leave boxes full of uncounted gold and Pablo's charge to pay off the Indians Pablo reads and writes and is very well off he has as many sheep as we have I fancy what? exclaimed Ramona astonished they all look as if they were poor oh well so they are replied Felipe compared with us but one reason is they share everything with each other old Pablo feeds and supports half his village they say so long as he has anything he will never see one of his Indians hungry the generous warmly exclaimed Ramona I think they are better than we are Felipe I think so too said Felipe that's what I've always said the Indians are the most generous people in the world of course they have learned it partly from us but they were very much so when the father's first came here you ask Father Salvia de Rosamde he has read all Father Juniperos and Father Crespi's Diaries and he says it's wonderful how the wild savages gave food to everyone who came Felipe you are talking too much said the Senora's voice in the doorway and as she spoke she looked reproachfully at Ramona if she had said it in words see how unfit you are to be trusted with Felipe no wonder I do not leave the room except when I must her meaning could not have been planer Ramona felt it keenly and not without some misgiving that it was deserved Felipe has it hurt you she said timidly and to the Senora indeed Senora he has been speaking but very few moments very low go call Alessandro Ramona will you said Felipe tell him to bring his violin I think I will go to sleep if he plays a long search Ramona had for Alessandro everybody had seen him a few minutes ago but nobody knew where he was now kitchens, sheepfolds vineyards, orchards Juan Can's bed chamber Ramona searched them all in vain at last standing at the foot of the veranda steps and looking down the garden she thought she saw figures moving under the willows by the washing stones can he be there she said what can he be doing there who is with him and she walked down the path calling Alessandro Alessandro at the first sound Alessandro sprang from the side of his companion and almost before the second syllables had been said was standing face to face with Ramona here I am Senorita the Senor Felipe want me I have my violin here I thought perhaps he would like to have me play it to him in the twilight yes replied Ramona he wishes to hear you I've been looking everywhere for you as she spoke she was half unconsciously peering beyond into the dusk to see whose figure it was slowly moving by the brook nothing escaped Alessandro's notice where Ramona was concerned it is Margarita he said instantly does the Senorita want her shall I run and call her no said Ramona again displeased she knew not why nor in fact knew she was displeased no I was not looking for her what is she doing there she's washing replied Alessandro innocently washing it this time of day thought Ramona severely a mere pretext I shall watch Margarita the Senorita would never allow this sort of thing and as she walked back to the house by Alessandro's side she meditated whether or no she would herself speak to Margarita on the subject in the morning Margarita in the meantime was also having her season of reflections not the pleasantest as she sourced her aprons up and down in the water she said to herself I may as well finish them now I'm here how provoking I've no more than got a word with him than she must come calling him away and he flies as if he was shot on an arrow at the first word I'd like to know what's come over the man to be so different if I could ever get a good half hour with him alone I'd soon find out all but his eyes go through me through and through me I know he's an Indian but what do I care for that he's a million times handsomere than Senor Felipe and Juan Jose said the other day he'd make enough better head shepherd than old Juan Can if Senor Felipe'd only see it and why shouldn't he get to see it if Alessandro's here all summer and before the aprons were done Margarita had a fine air castle up herself and Alessandro married a nice little house children playing in the sunshine below the artichoke patch and she herself still working for the senora and the senorita will perhaps marry Senor Felipe she added her thoughts moving more hesitantly he worships the ground she walks on anybody with quarter of a blind eye can see that but maybe the senora would not let him anyhow Senor Felipe is sure to have a wife and so and so it was an innocent girlish castle built of sweet and natural longings for which no maiden below need blush but its foundations were laid in sand on which would presently beat such winds and floods as poor little Margarita never dreamed of the next day Margarita and Ramona both went about their day's business with a secret purpose in their hearts Margarita had made up her mind that before the night she would by fair means or foul have a good long talk with Alessandro he was fond enough of me last year she said to herself recalling some of the dances and the good night leave takings at that time it's because he is so put upon by everybody now what with one can and one bed sending for him to pray to him about the sheep and Senor Felipe in another sending for him to fiddle him to sleep and all the care of the sheep it's a wonder he's not out of his mind altogether but I'll find a chance or make one before this day's sun sets if I can once get a half hour with him I'm not afraid after that I know the way it is with men said the confident Margarita who truth being told it must be admitted did indeed know a great deal about the way it is with men and could be safely backed in a fair field with a fair start against any girl of her age in station in the country so much for Margarita's purpose at the outset of a day destined to be an eventful one in her life Ramona's purpose was no less clear she had decided after some reflection that she would not speak to the Senora about Margarita's having been under the willows with Alessandro in the previous evening but would watch her carefully and see whether there were any further signs of her attempting to have clandestine interviews with him this course she adopted she thought chiefly because of her affection for Margarita and her unwillingness to expose her to the Senora's displeasure which would be great and terrible to bear she was also aware of an unwillingness to bring anything to light which would reflect ever so lightly upon Alessandro in the Senora's estimation and he is not really to blame thought Ramona if a girl follows him about and makes free with him she must have seen him at the willows and gone down there on purpose to meet him making a pretext of the washing for she never in this world would have gone to wash in the dark as he must have known if he were not a fool he is not the sort of person it seems to me to be fooling with maids he seems as full of grave thought as Father Salviadera if I see anything amiss in Margarita today I shall speak to her myself kindly but firmly and tell her to conduct herself more discreetly then as the other maidens had done Ramona's thoughts being concentrated on Alessandro altered a little from their first key and grew softer and more imaginative strangely enough taking some of the phrases as it were out of the other maidens mouth I never saw such eyes as Alessandro has she said I wonder any girl should make free with him even I myself when he fixes his eyes on me feel a constraint there is something in them like the eyes of a saint so solemn yet so mild I am sure he is very good and so the day opened and if there were a broad in the valley that day a demon of mischief let loose to tangle the skeins of human affairs things could not have fallen out better for his purpose than they did for it was not yet ten o'clock of the morning when Ramona sitting at her embroidery in the veranda half hid behind the vines saw Alessandro going with his pruning knife in his hand toward the artichoke patch at the east of the garden and joining the almond orchard I wonder what he is going to do there she thought he can't be going to cut willows and her eyes followed him till he disappeared among the trees Ramona was not the only one who saw this Margarita looking from the east window of Father Salvia Derra's room saw the same thing now is my chance she said throwing a white reboso coquettishly over her head she slipped around the corner of the house she ran swiftly in the direction in which Alessandro had gone the sound of her steps reached Ramona who, lifting her eyes took in the whole situation at a glance there was no possible duty no possible message which would take Margarita there Ramona's cheeks blazed with a disproportionate indignation but she besought herself the senora may have sent her to call Alessandro she rose went to the door of Felipe's room and looked in sitting in the chair by Felipe's bed with her eyes closed Felipe was dozing the senora opened her eyes and looked inquiringly at Ramona do you know where Margarita is? said Ramona in Father Salvia Derra's room or else in the kitchen helping Marga replied the senora in a whisper I told her to help Marga with the peppers this morning Ramona nodded returned to the veranda and sat down to decide on her course of action then she rose again and going to Father Salvia Derra's room looked in the room was still in disorder Margarita had left her work there unfinished the color deepened on Ramona's cheeks it was strange how accurately she divined each process of the incident she saw him from this window said Ramona and has run after him it is shameful I will go and call her back not at all it is high time that this was stopped but once back in the veranda Ramona halted and seated herself in her chair again the idea of seeming to spy was revolting to her I will wait here till she comes back she said and took up her embroidery but she could not work as the minutes went slowly by she sat with her eyes fixed on the almond orchard where first Alessandro and then Margarita had disappeared at last she could bear it no longer it seemed to her already a very long time it was not in reality very long a half hour or so perhaps but it was long enough for Margarita to have made great headway as she thought in her talk with Alessandro and for things to have reached just the worst possible crisis at which they could have been surprised when Ramona suddenly appeared at the orchard gate saying in a stern tone Margarita you are wanted in the house at a bad crisis indeed for everybody concerned the picture which Ramona had seen as she reached the gate was this Alessandro standing with his back against the fence his right hand hanging listlessly down with a pruning knife in it his left hand in the hand of Margarita who stood close to him looking up in his face with a half saucy half loving expression what made bad matters worse was that at the first side of Ramona Alessandro snatched his hand from Margaritas and tried to draw farther off from her looking at her with an expression which even in her anger Ramona could not help seeing was one of disgust and repulsion and if Ramona saw it how much more did Margarita saw it as only a woman repulsed in presence of another woman can see and feel was over in the twinkling of an eye the telling it takes double treble the time of the happening before Alessandro was fairly aware what had befallen Ramona and Margarita were disappearing from view under the garden trellis Ramona walking in advance stately silent and Margarita following sulky abject in her gate but with a raging whirlwind in her heart it had taken only the twinkling of an eye but it had told Margarita the truth Alessandro too my god he said the senorita thought me making love to that girl may the fiends get her the senorita looked at me as if I were a dog how could she think a man would look at a woman after he had once seen her and I can never, never speak to her to tell her oh this cannot be born and in his rage Alessandro threw his pruning knife whirling through the air so fiercely it sank to the hilt in one of the old olive trees he wished he were dead he was minded to flee the place how could he ever look the senorita in the face again perdition take that girl he said over and over in his helpless despair an ill outlook for Margarita after this and the girl had not deserved it in Margarita's heart the pain was more clearly defined she had seen Ramona a half second before Alessandro had and dreaming no special harm except the little confusion it had been seen thus standing with him for she would tell the senorita all about it when matters had gone a little farther had not let go of Alessandro's hand but the next second she had seen in his face a look oh she would never forget it never that she should live to have any man look at her like that the first glimpse of the senorita all the blood in his body seemed rushing into his face and he had snatched his hand away for it was Margarita herself that had taken his hand not he hers had snatched his hand away and pushed her from him till she had nearly fallen all this might have been born if it had been only a fear of the senorita seeing them which had made him do it but Margarita knew a great deal better than that that once swift anguished, shame, smitten appealing, worshiping look on Alessandro's face as his eyes rested on Ramona was like a flash of light into Margarita's consciousness far better than Alessandro himself she now knew his secret in her first rage she did not realize either the gulf between herself and Ramona or that between Ramona and Alessandro her jealous rage was as entire as if they had all been equals together she lost her head altogether and there was embodied insolence in the tone in which she said presently did the senorita want me turning swiftly on her and looking her full in the eye Ramona said I saw you go into the orchard Margarita and I knew what she went for I knew that you were at the book last night with Alessandro all I wanted of you was to tell you that if I see anything more of this sort I shall speak to the senora there is no harm I don't know what the senorita means you know very well Margarita retorted Ramona you know that the senora permits nothing of the kind be careful now what you do and with that the two separated Ramona returning to the veranda and her embroidery and Margarita to her neglected duty of making the good father's bed but each girl's heart was hot and unhappy and Margaritas would have been still hotter and unhappier had she heard the words which were being spoken on the veranda a little later after a few minutes of this blind rage at Margarita himself and fate generally Alessandro recovering his senses had ingeniously persuaded himself that as the senoras and also the senorita servant for the time being he owed it to them to explain the situation in which he had just been found just what he was to say he did not know but no sooner had the thought struck him then he set off at full speed for the house hoping to find Ramona on the veranda where he knew she spent all her time when not with senor Felipe when Ramona saw him coming she lowered her eyes and was absorbed in her embroidery she did not wish to look at him the footsteps stopped she knew he was standing at the steps she thought if she did not he would go away she did not know either the Indian or the lover nature after a time finding the consciousness of the soundless presence intolerable she looked up and surprised on Alessandro's a gaze which had in its long interval of freedom from observation been slowly gathering up into it all the passion of the man's soul as a burning glass draws the fire of the sun's rays involuntarily a low cry burst from Ramona's lips and she sprang to her feet oh did I frighten the senorita forgive I have been waiting here a long time to speak to her I wished to say suddenly Alessandro discovered that he did not know what he wished to say as suddenly Ramona discovered that she knew all he wished to say but she spoke not only looked at him searchingly senorita he began again I would never be unfaithful to my duty to the senora and to you I believe you Alessandro said Ramona it is not necessary to say more at these words a radiant joy spread over Alessandro's face he had not hoped for this he felt rather than heard that Ramona understood him he felt for the first time a personal relation between himself and her it is well he said in the brief phrase so frequent with his people it is well and with a reverent inclination of his head he walked away Margarita still dawdling surlyly over her work in Father Salvia Derro's room heard Alessandro's voice and running to discover to whom he was speaking caught these last words peering from behind a curtain she saw the look with which he said them saw also the expression on Ramona's face as she listened Margarita clenched her hands the seed had blossomed Ramona had an enemy oh but I am glad Father Salvia Derro has gone said the girl bitterly he'd have had this out of me spite of everything I haven't got to confess for a year maybe and much can happen in that time much indeed End of Chapter 7