216 McLOUGHLIN AND OLD OREGON
was silent. He was jealous of his own seat at the head of Spanish power; he was even jealous of his Uncle Vallejo at Sonoma, with whom he divided the province.
"Monterey is the kitchen to Santa Barbara's parlor," said Sir George, after they doubled Point Conception and landed at the latter village. Evidently Sir George was not satisfied with Alvarado. They were enchanted with the lovely dons and donas of Santa Barbara, rich, even in that day, in linen and lace and damask and satin. At the Spanish mission they were served by a middle-aged nun in black.
"Dona Conception, a famous lady hereabouts," said the padres, as she passed from the room with a plate of cakes.
"What! Dona Conception who would have been the bride of Baron von Resanoff? "asked Sir George, who had just been to Sitka.
"The same," said the padres. "He never came, so she devotes herself to the instruction of the young and the consolation of the sick."
"What! "exclaimed Sir George. "Is she not aware that Von Resanoff is dead? "
"Dead? "shrieked the nun in black at the open door.
"Yes, my lady, he fell from his horse and was killed at Krasnoyarsk on his road to Europe more than thirtyfive years ago."
And the nun who had mourned her lover for thirtyfive years went away and wept in a cell of the mission at Santa Barbara.
Rae returned with Ermatinger to Yerba Buena. The doctor and Sir George sailed away to interview the king of the Sandwich Islands. Kamehameha III. made the
