he sight of this farce that, had Lucas noticed it, he would have
run away at top speed. "Now what do you want?" he asked, turning away.

"Ah, Padre, tell me for the love of God what I ought to do. The padre
has always given good advice."

"Who told you so? You don't belong in these parts."

"The padre is known all over the province."

With irritated looks Padre Salvi approached him and pointing to the
street said to the now startled Lucas, "Go home and be thankful that
Don Crisostomo didn't have you sent to jail! Get out of here!"

Lucas forgot the part he was playing and murmured, "But I thought--"

"Get out of here!" cried Padre Salvi nervously.

"I would like to see Padre Damaso."

"Padre Damaso is busy. Get out of here!" again ordered the curate
imperiously.

Lucas went down the stairway muttering, "He's another of them--as he
doesn't pay well--the one who pays best!"

At the sound of the curate's voice all had hurried to the spot,
including Padre Damaso, Capitan Tiago, and Linares.

"An insolent vagabond who came to beg and who doesn't want to work,"
explained Padre Salvi, picking up his hat and cane to return to
the convento.

CHAPTER XLIV

An Examination of Conscience

Long days and weary nights passed at the sick girl's bed. After having
confessed herself, Maria Clara had suffered a relapse, and in her
delirium she uttered only the name of the mother whom she had never
known. But her girl friends, her father, and her aunt kept watch at
her side. Offerings and alms were sent to all the miraculous images,
Capitan Tiago vowed a gold cane to the Virgin of Antipolo, and at
length the fever began to subside slowly and regularly.

Doctor De Espadana was astonished at the virtues of the syrup of
marshmallow and the infusion of lichen, prescriptions that he had not
varied. Dona Victorina was so pleased with her husband that one day
when he stepped on the train of her gown she did not apply her penal
code to the extent of taking his set of false teeth away from him,
but contented herself with merely exclaiming, "If you weren't lame
you'd even step on my corset!"--an article of apparel she did not wear.

One afternoon while Sinang and Victoria were visiting their friend,
the curate, Capitan Tiago, and Dona Victorina's family were conversing
over their lunch in the dining-room.

"Well, I feel very sorry about it," said the doctor; "Padre Damaso
also will regret it very much."

"Where do you sa