"There is a little silver key on the shrine," said Dolores, and ran to get it.
"Aha! On the shrine of the Virgin!" said Doña Luisa. "Is that not love, Raquelita?"
"I am willing to believe it," she said, and took the little key, only to hand it back to Dolores. "You open it--and may you be the next happy bride!"
Dolores rushed to unlock the chest, and Madalena to lift the lid, and Ana, as well as the older women, exclaimed at the richness of the contents.
"Ai! Raquel Estevan, thou happy one!" cried Ana; "you have more luck than a queen!"
They pulled out embroideries and laces and jewels, with little shrieks of ecstasy at the beauty and fineness of them. Raquel looked on, smiling at their delight.
"Aha! is not that a lover, Raquelita?" repeated Doña Luisa. "Bring me the mantillas. Those two are for the bridesmaids; see how they look on Madalena and Dolores--fine--fine! And here is the wedding-veil--and the shoes, and the rosary--not anything is forgotten! He is so dear, so good--my Rafael!"
The girls insisted on placing the wreath and veil on Raquel's head, but she broke from them at sight of a silken scarf of green and red and white.
"Ah! more than all the jewels!" she cried, and clasped it to her bosom. "The flag of my own Mexico! I will love him for that--I will love him with all my heart!"
"Ah! thou hast said it at last," said Doña Luisa, in triumph; "never forget thou hast said it!"
"When I say it," whispered Dolores to Ana, "it will be to the man, not to his mother."
"Come to me, daughter," said Doña Luisa, sinking back into a chair. "The heart feels--feels almost too happy! My dear Raquel--my dear Rafael!"
"The Americanos will be crazy to see this wedding in the old California fashion," said Madalena, adjusting Raquel's veil caressingly. "Señora Bryton would give her two ears--ouch! Doña Ana, you break my arm!"
"Give thanks it is not your neck, babbler!" muttered Ana. Doña Luisa looked at the two intently a moment.
"Who is the American señora of the two ears?" she inquired; "and why should the wedding of my son have interest for such--persons?"
"She--she was a cousin of Don Eduardo, and now she is married again--and she visits us, and her husband is some kind of engineer to make railroads, and mines, and--"