Chata and Chinita, Chapters XIV-XVI [pp. 393-409]

1886.] C/zata and Climita. 401
constantly called that her baptismal name more various, more daring, more perplexing,
was almost unknown) had already laid their more vexatious to all with whom she came
wreaths of pink Castillian roses upon the al- in contact.
tar, and were demurely telling their beads, A thousand times had it been upon the
when a startling vision passed them. lips of Doria Rita to forbid her coming to
It was Chinita, literally begarlanded with distract the minds of her children by her
flowers-wild roses, pale and delicate, long wild pranks; but, besides that Dofia Rita
tendrils of jessamine, and masses of faint was of a constitutionally indolent nature,
yellow cups of the cactus, and scarlet verbe- averse even to the use of many words, and
nas, dusty and coarse, yet offering a dazzling still more to energetic action, the child was
contrast of color to the snowy pyramid of a constant source of interest. She carried
lily-shaped blossoms, hacked from the sum- into the quiet rooms a sense of freedom and
mit of a palm, which she bore proudly upon expansion, as if she brought with her the
one shoulder; while from the other hung her breezes and sunlight in which she delighted
blue reboso in the guise of a bag filled with to wander. She had, too, a powerful ally in
ferns and grasses, brought from coverts few Dofia Feliz, who kept a watchful eye upon
others knew of. They made a glorious dis- her; and though she never, like her daughterplay as they were laid about the altar, for in-law or the children, made a pet and playthere was not room for half upon it. The thing of her, yet was always the first to nobreath of the fields and woodlands rushed tice if she looked less well than usual, or to
over the church, almost overpowering the set Pedro on his guard if her wanderings
smell of the incense, and there were smiles were too far afield, or her absences too long.
on many faces, and wide-eyed glances of ad- Upon this day, as Chinita turned from the
miration and surprise, as Chinita descended altar, while others smiled, a frown contracted
to take her place among the congregation. the brow of Dofia Feliz, as for the first time,
Three Mays had come and gone since she perhaps, she realized that this gypsy-like
had stood under the fateful tree, and given child was in physique almost a woman. She
the jet amulet to the cavalier, who had so had chosen that day to wear a dress of bright
roused and fascinated her imagination; but green woolen stuff-far from becoming to
whatever may have been its effect upon its the olive tint of her skin, but by some accinew possessor, its loss had certainly wrought dent cut to fit a figure which already outno ill upon Chinita. Though not yet twelve lined, though imperfectly, the graces of early
years of age, she was fast attaining the de- womanhood. The short, armless jacket was
velopment of womanhood and her mind, as fashioned after the child's own fancy, and
well as person, showed a rare precocity even opened over a chemise, which was a mass of
in that land where the change from child- drawn work and embroidery; her skirts outhoo to woaho sem alos intna spea al otes ye the flwn draer