dvance money for the passage, and, when the dream was dispelled,
the young man was already on his way.

These are the three persons who had just arrived.

While they were eating their breakfast, Father Salvi arrived, and,
as the husband and wife had already met the friar, they presented
him to the young Linares, with all his titles. The young man blushed.

As was natural they spoke of Maria Clara. The young maiden was resting
and sleeping. They talked over the voyage. Dona Victorina showed her
verbosity by criticising the customs of the provinces, the nipa houses,
the bamboo bridges, without forgetting to tell the curate about her
friendship with the Commander of the Army, the Alcalde so and so,
Judge so and so of the Supreme Court, and with the governor of the
province, all persons of categoria, who had much consideration for her.

"If you had come two days before, Dona Victorina," replied Captain
Tiago during a short pause, "you would have met His Excellency,
the Governor General. He sat right there."

"What? How's that? Was His Excellency here? And in your house? A lie!"

"I tell you he sat right there. If you had come two days before----"

"Ah! What a shame that little Clara did not fall sick
before!" exclaimed she, in real sorrow. And directing herself to
Linares: "Do you hear, cousin? His Excellency was here! You see
De Espadana was right when he told you that we were not going to
the house of a miserable native. For you should know, Don Santiago,
that our cousin was a friend of all the Ministers in Madrid and all
the Dukes, and he dined in the house of Count del Campanario (belfry)."

"Duke de la Torre (tower), Victorina," said her husband, correcting
her.

"It amounts to the same thing. Do you think you can tell me that----"

"Would I find Father Damaso in town to-day?" interrupted Linares,
turning to Father Salvi. "They have told me that he is near here."

"He is, precisely, and will come here in a little while," replied
the curate.

"How glad I am! I have a letter for him," exclaimed the young man. "And
if it had not been for this happy chance which brought me here,
I would have come expressly to visit him."

"The happy chance--that is, Maria Clara--had, in the meantime
awakened."

"De Espadana!" said Dona Victorina, finishing her breakfast. "Are
we going to see little Clara?" And turning to Captain Tiago, "For
you only, Don Santiago; for you alone! My husband does not treat
anybody except peo