Part 19 (2/2)
asked the Senora, earnestly. ”Run away and marry him, spite of our refusing to consent to the marriage?”
”I do,” said Felipe.
”Then it is your opinion, is it, that the only thing left for us to do, is to wash our hands of it altogether, and leave her free to do what she pleases?”
”That's just what I do think, mother,” replied Felipe, his heart growing lighter at her words. ”That's just what I do think. We can't prevent it, and it is of no use to try. Do let us tell them they can do as they like.”
”Of course, Alessandro must leave us, then,” said the Senora. ”They could not stay here.”
”I don't see why!” said Felipe, anxiously.
”You will, my son, if you think a moment. Could we possibly give a stronger indors.e.m.e.nt to their marriage than by keeping them here? Don't you see that would be so?”
Felipe's eyes fell. ”Then I suppose they couldn't be married here, either,” he said.
”What more could we do than that, for a marriage that we heartily approved of, my son?”
”True, mother;” and Felipe clapped his hand to his forehead. ”But then we force them to run away!”
”Oh, no.” said the Senora, icily. ”If they go, they will go of their own accord. We hope they will never do anything so foolish and wrong. If they do, I suppose we shall always be held in a measure responsible for not having prevented it. But if you think it is not wise, or of no use to attempt that, I do not see what there is to be done.”
Felipe did not speak. He felt discomfited; felt as if he had betrayed his friend Alessandro, his sister Ramona; as if a strange complication, network of circ.u.mstances, had forced him into a false position; he did not see what more he could ask, what more could be asked, of his mother; he did not see, either, that much less could have been granted to Alessandro and Ramona; he was angry, wearied, perplexed.
The Senora studied his face. ”You do not seem satisfied, Felipe dear,”
she said tenderly. ”As, indeed, how could you be in this unfortunate state of affairs? But can you think of anything different for us to do?”
”No,” said Felipe, bitterly. ”I can't, that's the worst of it. It is just turning Ramona out of the house, that's all.”
”Felipe! Felipe!” exclaimed the Senora, ”how unjust you are to yourself!
You know you would never do that! You know that she has always had a home here as if she were a daughter; and always will have, as long as she wishes it. If she chooses to turn her back on it, and go away, is it our fault? Do not let your pity for this misguided girl blind you to what is just to yourself and to me. Turn Ramona out of the house! You know I promised my sister to bring her up as my own child; and I have always felt that my son would receive the trust from me, when I died.
Ramona has a home under the Moreno roof so long as she will accept it.
It is not just, Felipe, to say that we turn her out;” and tears stood in the Senora's eyes.
”Forgive me, dear mother,” cried the unhappy Felipe. ”Forgive me for adding one burden to all you have to bear. Truth is, this miserable business has so distraught my senses, I can't seem to see anything as it is. Dear mother, it is very hard for you. I wish it were done with.”
”Thanks for your precious sympathy, my Felipe,” replied the Senora. ”If it were not for you, I should long ago have broken down beneath my cares and burdens. But among them all, have been few so grievous as this. I feel myself and our home dishonored. But we must submit. As you say, Felipe, I wish it were done with. It would be as well, perhaps, to send for Ramona at once, and tell her what we have decided. She is no doubt in great anxiety; we will see her here.”
Felipe would have greatly preferred to see Ramona alone; but as he knew not how to bring this about he a.s.sented to his mother's suggestion.
Opening her door, the Senora walked slowly down the pa.s.sage-way, unlocked Ramona's door, and said: ”Ramona, be so good as to come to my room. Felipe and I have something to say to you.”
Ramona followed, heavy-hearted. The words, ”Felipe and I,” boded no good.
”The Senora has made Felipe think just as she does herself,” thought Ramona. ”Oh, what will become of me!” and she stole a reproachful, imploring look at Felipe. He smiled back in a way which rea.s.sured her; but the rea.s.surance did not last long.
”Senorita Ramona Ortegna,” began the Senora. Felipe s.h.i.+vered. He had had no conception that his mother could speak in that way. The words seemed to open a gulf between Ramona and all the rest of the world, so cold and distant they sounded,--as the Senora might speak to an intruding stranger.
”Senorita Ramona Ortegna,” she said, ”my son and I have been discussing what it is best for us to do in the mortifying and humiliating position in which you place us by your relation with the Indian Alessandro. Of course you know--or you ought to know--that it is utterly impossible for us to give our consent to your making such a marriage; we should be false to a trust, and dishonor our own family name, if we did that.”
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