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.

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

"Yes, Clarita, but the time for miracles has passed 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 sex 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