,
"and we were thirteen--ready for any little undertaking. But as we were
afraid the mistress might be vexed, we did nothing. It is time now for
the shearing."

"Don't mind about the shearing," said Dona Perfecta. "There will be time
enough for it. It won't be left undone for that."

"My two boys quarrelled with each other yesterday," said Licurgo,
"because one of them wanted to join Francisco Acero and the other
didn't. 'Easy, boys, easy,' I said to them; 'all in good time. Wait; we
know how to fight here as well as they do anywhere else.'"

"Last night," said Uncle Paso Largo, "Roque Pelosmalos told me that the
moment Senor Ramos said half a word they would all be ready, with their
arms in their hands. What a pity that the two Burguillos brothers went
to work in the fields in Lugarnoble!"

"Go for them you," said the mistress quickly. "Senor Lucas, do you
provide Uncle Paso Largo with a horse."

"And if the mistress tells me to do so, and Senor Ramos agrees," said
Frasquito Gonzalez, "I will go to Villahorrenda to see if Robustiano,
the forester, and his brother Pedro will also--"

"I think that is a good idea. Robustiano will not venture to come to
Orbajosa, because he owes me a trifle. You can tell him that I forgive
him the six dollars and a half. These poor people who sacrifice
themselves with so little. Is it not so, Senor Don Inocencio?"

"Our good Ramos here tells me," answered the canon, "that his friends
are displeased with him for his lukewarmness; but that, as soon as they
see that he has decided, they will all put the cartridge-box in their
belts."

"What, have you decided to take to the roads?" said the mistress. "I
have not advised you to do any such thing, and if you do it, it is of
your own free-will. Neither has Senor Don Inocencio said a word to you
to that effect. But if that is your decision, you have no doubt strong
reasons for coming to it. Tell me, Cristobal, will you have some supper?
Will you take something--speak frankly."

"As far as my advising Senor Ramos to take the field is concerned,"
said Don Inocencio, looking over his spectacles, "Dona Perfecta is quite
right. I, as an ecclesiastic, could advise nothing of the kind. I know
that some priests do so, and even themselves take up arms; but that
seems to me improper, very improper, and I for one will not follow their
example. I carry my scrupulosity so far as not to say a word to Senor
Ramos about the delicate question of his ta