live without you. Ah, Clarita, what a pleasure to zee you!"

Maria Clara was still pale, although now quite recovered from her
illness. Her long hair was tied up with a light blue silk ribbon. With
a timid bow and a sad smile she went up to Dona Victorina for the
ceremonial kiss.

After the usual conventional remarks, the pseudo-Andalusian continued:
"We've come to visit you. You've been zaved, thankz to your
relations." This was said with a significant glance toward Linares.

"God has protected my father," replied the girl in a low voice.

"Yez, Clarita, but the time of the miracles is pazt. We Zpaniards zay:
'Truzt in the Virgin and take to your heels.'"

"T-the other w-way!"

Capitan Tiago, who had up to this point had no chance to speak, now
made bold enough to ask, while he threw himself into an attitude of
strict attention, "So you, Dona Victorina, think that the Virgin--"

"We've come ezpezially to talk with you about the virgin," she answered
mysteriously, making a sign toward Maria Clara. "We've come to talk
business."

The maiden understood that she was expected to retire, so with an
excuse she went away, supporting herself on the furniture.

What was said and what was agreed upon in this conference was so
sordid and mean that we prefer not to recount it. It is enough to
record that as they took their leave they were all merry, and that
afterwards Capitan Tiago said to Aunt Isabel:

"Notify the restaurant that we'll have a fiesta tomorrow. Get Maria
ready, for we're going to marry her off before long."

Aunt Isabel stared at him in consternation.

"You'll see! When Senor Linares is our son-in-law we'll get into all
the palaces. Every one will envy us, every one will die of envy!"

Thus it happened that at eight o'clock on the following evening
the house of Capitan Tiago was once again filled, but this time his
guests were only Spaniards and Chinese. The fair sex was represented
by Peninsular and Philippine-Spanish ladies.

There were present the greater part of our acquaintances: Padre Sibyla
and Padre Salvi among various Franciscans and Dominicans; the old
lieutenant of the Civil Guard, Senor Guevara, gloomier than ever;
the alferez, who was for the thousandth time describing his battle
and gazing over his shoulders at every one, believing himself to
be a Don John of Austria, for he was now a major; De Espadana, who
looked at the alferez with respect and fear, and avoided his gaze;
and Dona V