They understood that the Church would take possession, and the housekeeping of the Church was notoriously easy and luxurious.
However, after exorbitant compensation had been made, and Molly had given in return "a bit of her mind," she left for the Irish colony of San Patricio, and Manuel immediately sought his favorite monte table.
When he had doubled his money, he intended to obey Molly's emphatic orders, and go and tell the priest all about it.
"I would rather, face a battery of cannon than Fray Ignatius and the servants again, Antonia." Antonia looked at her brother; he was worried and weary, and his first action, when he had finally cleared the house, was to walk around it, and bolt every door and window.

Antonia followed him silently.

She perceived that the crisis had come, and she was doing as good women in extremity do--trying to find in the darkness the hand always stretched out to guide and strengthen.

As yet she had not been able to grasp it.

She followed her brother like one in a troubled dream, whispering faintly, with white lips, "O God, where art Thou?
Help and pity us!" Thomas led her finally to his father's office.