unto myself," the
Sage answered with a sarcastic smile. "But now I think of it, has your
attention never been drawn to the character of our people? Peaceful,
yet fond of warlike shows and bloody fights; democratic, yet adoring
emperors, kings, and princes; irreligious, yet impoverishing itself
by costly religious pageants. Our women have gentle natures yet go
wild with joy when a princess flourishes a lance. Do you know to what
it is due? Well--"

The arrival of Maria Clara and her friends put an end to this
conversation. Don Filipo met them and ushered them to their
seats. Behind them came the curate with another Franciscan and some
Spaniards. Following the priests were a number of the townsmen who
make it their business to escort the friars. "May God reward them
also in the next life," muttered old Tasio as he went away.

The play began with Chananay and Marianito in _Crispino e la
comare_. All now had their eyes and ears turned to the stage, all but
one: Padre Salvi, who seemed to have gone there for no other purpose
than that of watching Maria Clara, whose sadness gave to her beauty an
air so ideal and interesting that it was easy to understand how she
might be looked upon with rapture. But the eyes of the Franciscan,
deeply hidden in their sunken sockets, spoke nothing of rapture. In
that gloomy gaze was to be read something desperately sad--with such
eyes Cain might have gazed from afar on the Paradise whose delights
his mother pictured to him!

The first scene was over when Ibarra entered. His appearance caused a
murmur, and attention was fixed on him and the curate. But the young
man seemed not to notice anything as he greeted Maria Clara and her
friends in a natural way and took a seat beside them.

The only one who spoke to him was Sinang. "Did you see the
fireworks?" she asked.

"No, little friend, I had to go with the Captain-General."

"Well, that's a shame! The curate was with us and told us stories
of the damned--can you imagine it!--to fill us with fear so that we
might not enjoy ourselves--can you imagine it!"

The curate arose and approached Don Filipo, with whom he began an
animated conversation. The former spoke in a nervous manner, the
latter in a low, measured voice.

"I'm sorry that I can't please your Reverence," said Don Filipo,
"but Senor Ibarra is one of the heaviest contributors and has a right
to be here as long as he doesn't disturb the peace."

"But isn't it disturbing the peac