it happened that there were no other Mexicans of their own age here at
this time. It was with much hesitation that Diego had told the Father of
his love, for the priest, although one of the kindest of men, disliked
change of any sort, were it the most trivial, a condition due as much to
temperament as to age, although the Father was now past the meridian of
life. Diego's great desire was to have a home for himself and his wife
away from the mission, for he was tired of the communal life which he
had lived for twenty years. Nothing but the love and respect he had for
Father Zalvidea, and the knowledge that he was, in a measure, necessary
to him, had kept him from making the change long before. But at last he
was resolved to hazard the matter, and with his mind made up, he
broached the subject one evening, after having received the priest's
orders for the following day.

The Father's surprise was great, for, somewhat strangely, the thought
that the relations between himself and Diego might be altered or broken
had never occurred to him; yet not so strangely, after all, for after
having had his services for nearly twenty years, what more natural than
his coming to regard the existing arrangement to be impossible of
change? Yet why should Diego's marriage make any difference in the
present condition of things? Married or single, would not Diego and
Juana continue to live at the mission? And so, somewhat to Diego's
surprise, the Father offered no remonstrance to his wish.

But when Diego asked him if he might have a piece of the mission land
where he could build a house, and make his home, the Father exclaimed:

"My son, are you dissatisfied with your life here? Must you leave me,
and give up all your old occupations at the mission? Cannot you and
Juan! a be contented here? What shall I do without you, for you are my