“The cattle will keep for a few days, Don Dario,” he said, “and you shall not leave this house until the festivities are over.  Not until a week from to-morrow—­do you hear?  I knew your father.  We had many a transaction together, and I take pleasure in welcoming his son under my roof.  Now get off to the young people, and do not make any excuses.”

Dario made none.

IV

The next morning at eight, Francisca stood before the altar in the chapel, looking very handsome in her rich gown and soft mantilla.  The bridegroom, a sensible-looking young Englishman, was somewhat nervous, but Francisca might have been married every morning at eight o’clock.  Behind them stood Don Roberto in a new suit of English broadcloth, and Dona Jacoba in heavy lilac silk, half covered with priceless lace.  The six bridesmaids looked like a huge bouquet, in their wide delicately coloured skirts.  Their dark eyes, mischievous, curious, thoughtful, flashed more brilliantly than the jewels they wore.

The sala and Don Roberto’s room beyond were so crowded that some of the guests stood in the windows, and many could not enter the doors; every family within a hundred leagues had come to the wedding.  The veranda was crowded with girls, the sparkling faces draped in black mantillas or bright rebosos, the full gay gowns fluttering in the breeze.  Men in jingling spurs and all the bravery of gold-laced trousers and short embroidered jackets respectfully elbowed their way past brown and stout old women that they might whisper a word into some pretty alert little ear.  They had all ridden many leagues that morning, but there was not a trace of fatigue on any face.  The court behind the sala was full of Indian servants striving to catch a glimpse of the ceremony.

Dario stood just within the front door, his eyes eagerly fixed upon Elena.  She looked like a California lily in her white gown; even her head drooped a little as if a storm had passed.  Her eyes were absent and heavy; they mirrored nothing of the solemn gayety of the morning; they saw only the welts on her brother’s back.

Dario had not seen her since Santiago’s arrival.  She had not appeared at supper, and he had slept little in consequence; in fact, he had spent most of the night playing monte with Joaquin and a dozen other young men in the billiard-room.

During the bridal mass the padre gave communion to the young couple, and to those that had made confession the night before.  Elena was not of the number, and during the intense silence she drew back and stood and knelt near Dario.  They were not close enough to speak, had they dared; but the Californian had other speech than words, and Dario and Elena made their confession that morning.