Chata and Chinita, Chapters XXXIII-XXXV [pp. 2-24]

1887.] Chata and Chinita 3
manos stood. With ready tact she avoided with which the young girl took her place
recalling her unwatched, untended child- with Dona Isabel, as if she had never
hood to the mind of Dona Isabel, who known one more humble, while there was
received with a distaste which seemed of something in the cold and stately manner
the nature of regretful shame, any allusion of Dona Isabel which seemed to shrink
to the life from which the girl who now before the imperious force of character of
called her Tia-aunt-had been rescued. her young companion.
The use of this appellation had been It was at their first halt that Dona Isabel
brought about by Ruiz in his evident un- had, with unexpected hospitality, sent to
certainty as to how the apparent relation- invite Ruiz to share their midday meal;
ship between his patroness and her pro- and, evidently with some effort, at the same
tege' should be defined. He had tenta- time bade the sc~ant extend the invitation
tively alluded to Dona Isabel as the to the young American. Ruiz presented
godmother of Chinita, a designation which himself with due acknowledgements, but
some conscientious scruple led her to Ashley was nowhere to be found. He and
reject. The word ha is used as a term of his serw~nt Pepe had disappeared from the
respect towards an elder as often as in ranks. No one remembered having seen
actual acknowledgment of relationship; them since they ascended the face of the
and when with some daring Chinita one day hill of el cementerie; doubtless, it was surapplied it to Dona Isabel, in answering mised, the young man had wearied, and
some remark of the young captain, the lady and had unceremoniously returned to Tres
allowed it to pass unchallenged, and gradu- Hermanos.
ally` mi Tia Isabel" took the place of the Dona Isabel's face clouded. Upon the
formal "Senora," which hitherto had helped next day she had hoped to part company
to keep their intercourse as reserved and with her unwelcome guest forever; and now
cold as when Chinita still stood at the gate part of her purpose in leaving the haciat Pedro's side, and Dona Isabel furtively enda was already frustrated. Ruiz was
glanced at her growing beauty, and felt the scarcely less disquieted; a glance at Chinita's
hand of remorse pressing upon her heart. triumphant countenance confirmed his ap She felt it still, and that it was which prehensions. Pepe', at least, had not returned
made her lenient to a score of faults in this to the hacienda. He had had it in his mind
young girl that in her own children would to have the servant strictly watched. It had
have been deemed almost unpardonable. not occurred to him that upon the first day
She did not admit that she loved her~-it is he would attempt to evade him, and fulfill
doubtful if she really did~-yet she strove by Chinita's wild project of summoning Ramirez.
all the arts of which the long repression of He inwardly cursed his own folly, and the
her nature made her capable to win the duplicity of Ashley, whom he had not for a
heart of the girl, who, she saw with sus- moment supposed in sympathy with the plot.
picious intuition, beheld in her one who They had even laughed at it together as the
had wronged her, and was, even now, with- foolish dream of an imaginative girl. Now
holding her birthright. Dona Isabel would to his apprehensions was added a burning
give rich gifts, but never a caress; perhaps jealousy. For Chinita's sake the Amen can
Chinita would have spurned the last as had doubtless made her cause his own; with
lightly as she received the first. Ruiz, ad- such an ally it was not impossible that he
mitted to a certain intimacy by the neces- might see himself confronted by the man,
sities of the time, was impressed by the who, he knew well, never forgave a slight,
entire absence of any sense of obligation never left unrevenged an injury.