Part 46 (2/2)
”Senora, Senora!” protested Linares.
But she did not give him any time.
”Oh, what a diplomat you have turned out to be! But we all know that you are the adviser of the Governor General, that he could not live without you. Ah! What a pleasure to see you, Clarita.”
Maria Clara seemed paler than ever, although she was now quite recovered from her illness. Sadly smiling, she approached and greeted Dona Victorina with a formal kiss.
After the customary words had been exchanged, Dona went on with her false Andalusian.
”We came to visit you. You have been saved by the efforts of your friends,”--looking significantly at Linares.
”G.o.d has protected my father,” said the girl, in a low voice.
”Yes, Clarita, but the time for miracles has pa.s.sed long ago. As we Spaniards say: 'Have no trust in the Virgin and save yourself by running.'”
”The--th--the ot--ot--other way,” said the doctor, correcting her proverbial quotation.
Captain Tiago, who had not yet found opportunity to say a word, ventured to ask her, giving much attention to her reply: ”So you, Dona Victorina, believe that the Virgin...?”
”That is precisely what we came for, to speak to you about the Virgin,”
replied she, indicating Maria Clara. ”We have a matter to talk over.”
The maiden understood that she ought to retire. She sought an excuse and went away, supporting herself on the furniture as she walked along.
What was said in the conference which followed was so low and mean that we prefer to omit it. It is sufficient for us to say that when they took their leave all were happy, and that Captain Tiago afterward said to his cousin:
”Isabel, send word to the restaurant that we are going to give a fiesta to-morrow. You get Maria ready to be married in a short time.”
Aunt Isabel looked at him, surprised.
”You will see! When Senor Linares is our son-in-law all the palaces will be open to us. They will be envying us; they will all die with envy.”
And thus it was that at eight o'clock on the following evening, Captain Tiago's house was again full of guests, only that this time the men whom he had invited were either Spaniards or Chinamen, while the fair s.e.x was represented by Spaniards born in the Peninsula or in the Philippines.
The larger part of our acquaintances was there: Father Sibyla, Father Salvi and several other Franciscans and Dominicans, the old lieutenant of the Civil Guard, Senor Guevara, more melancholy than ever; the alferez, who related his battle for the thousandth time, feeling himself head and shoulders above everybody and a veritable Don Juan de Austria, now a lieutenant with the rank of commander; De Espadana, who looked at the former with respect and fear and avoided his glance; and the indignant Dona Victorina. Linares was not yet present, for, being a very important personage, it was fitting that he should arrive later than the others.
Maria Clara, the subject of all the gossip, was the center of a group of women. She had greeted and received them ceremoniously, but did not throw off her air of sadness.
”Ps.h.!.+” said one of the girls. ”A little stuck-up!”
”A cute little thing,” replied another, ”but he might have selected some one of a more intelligent appearance.”
”It's the money; he's a good-looking fellow and sells himself for a good price.”
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