we are descended from monkeys. If he had said that only in the case of
certain people I know, he would have been right."

"The theory of natural selection," said Jacinto emphatically, "has, they
say, a great many partisans in Germany."

"I do not doubt it," said the ecclesiastic. "In Germany they would have
no reason to be sorry if that theory were true, as far as Bismarck is
concerned."

Dona Perfecta and Senor Don Cayetano at this moment made their
appearance.

"What a beautiful evening!" said the former. "Well, nephew, are you
getting terribly bored?"

"I am not bored in the least," responded the young man.

"Don't try to deny it. Cayetano and I were speaking of that as we came
along. You are bored, and you are trying to hide it. It is not every
young man of the present day who would have the self-denial to spend
his youth, like Jacinto, in a town where there are neither theatres,
nor opera bouffe, nor dancers, nor philosophers, nor athenaeums,
nor magazines, nor congresses, nor any other kind of diversions or
entertainments."

"I am quite contented here," responded Pepe. "I was just now saying to
Rosario that I find this city and this house so pleasant that I would
like to live and die here."

Rosario turned very red and the others were silent. They all sat down
in a summer-house, Jacinto hastening to take the seat on the left of the
young girl.

"See here, nephew, I have a piece of advice to give you," said Dona
Perfecta, smiling with that expression of kindness that seemed to
emanate from her soul, like the aroma from the flower. "But don't
imagine that I am either reproving you or giving you a lesson--you are
not a child, and you will easily understand what I mean."

"Scold me, dear aunt, for no doubt I deserve it," replied Pepe, who was
beginning to accustom himself to the kindnesses of his father's sister.

"No, it is only a piece of advice. These gentlemen, I am sure, will
agree that I am in the right."

Rosario was listening with her whole soul.

"It is only this," continued Dona Perfecta, "that when you visit our
beautiful cathedral again, you will endeavor to behave with a little
more decorum while you are in it."

"Why, what have I done?"

"It does not surprise me that you are not yourself aware of your fault,"
said his aunt, with apparent good humor. "It is only natural; accustomed
as you are to enter athenaeums and clubs, and academies and congresses
without any ceremony, you think t