Every hour she watched more anxiously for some messenger from her father.

And as day after day went by in a hopeless sameness of grief, she grew more restless under the continual small trials that encompassed her.
Towards the end of January, General Urrea, at the head of the vanguard of the Mexican army, entered Texas.

His destination was La Bahia or Goliad, a strong fortress garrisoned by Americans under Colonel Fanning.
Santa Anna was to leave in eight days after him.

With an army of twenty thousand men he was coming to the relief of San Antonio.
The news filled the city with the wildest rejoicing.

The little bells of the processions, the big bells of the churches, the firing of cannon, the hurrahs of the tumultuous people, made an uproar which reached the three lonely women through the closed windows of their rooms.
"If only Lopez Navarro would come! If he would send us some little message! Holy Mary, even he has forgotten us!" cried the Senora in a paroxysm of upbraiding sorrow.
At that moment the door opened, and Fray Ignatius passed the threshold with lifted hands and a muttered blessing.