“After supper I am turn down the bed in my senora’s room when I hear somebody spik very low ou’side on the corridor.  I kneel on the window-seat and look out, and there I see Don Rafael have his arms roun Dona Ester and kissing her and she no mine at all.  I wonder how they get out there by themselfs, for the Spanish very streect with the girls and no ’low that.  But the young peoples always very—­how you say it?—­smart, no?  After while all go to bed, and I braid Dona Juana’s hair and she tell me Ester go to marry Don Rafael, and she feel very happy and I no say one word.  Then I go to Dona Beatriz’s bedroom; always I fix her for the bed, too.  Ester have other woman take care her, but Beatriz love me.  She keeck me when she is little, and pull my hair, when I no give her the dulces; but I no mine, for she have the good heart and so sweet spression when she no is mad and always maka very kind with me.  I comb her hair and I see she look very cross and I ask her why, and she say she hate mens, they are fools, and womens too.  I ask her why she think that, and she say she no can be spect have reason for all whatte she think; and she throw her head aroun so I no can comb at all and keeck out her little foot.

“‘You no go to marry with Don Carlos?’ I asking.

“‘No!’ she say, and youbetcherlife her eyes flash.  ’You think I marrying a singing, sighing, gambling, sleepy caballero?  Si no can marry man I no marry at all.  Madre de Dios!’ (She spik beautiful; but I no spik good Eenglish, and you no ondrestan the Spanish.)

“‘But all are very much like,’ I say; ’and you no want die old maid, no?’

“‘I no care!’ and then she fling hersel roun on the chair and throw her arms roun me and cry and sob on my estomac.  ‘Ay, my Lukari!’ she cry when she can spik,’ I hate everybody!  I am tire out to exista!  I want to live!  I am tire stay all alone!  Oh, I want—­I no know what I want!  Life is terreeblay thing, macheppa!’

“I no know at all whatte she mean, for have plenty peoples all the time, and she never walk, so I no can think why she feel tire; but I kissing her and smoothe her hair, for I jus love her, and tell her no cry.  Bime by she fine it some one she loving, and she is very young yet,—­twenty, no more.

“‘I no stay here any longer,’ she say.  ’I go to ask my father take me to Mejico, where can see something cept hills and trees and missions and forts, and where perhaps—­ay, Dios de mi alma!’ Then she jump up and take me by the shoulders and just throw me out the room and lock the door; but I no mine, for I am use to her.

“Bueno, I think I go for walk, and bime by I come to the rancheria, and while I am there I hear terreeblay thing from old Pepe.  He say he hear for sure that the bad Indians—­who was no make Christian by the padres and living very wild in the mountains—­come killing all the white peoples on the ranchos.  He say he know sure it is true, and tell me beg Don Carlos send to San Diego