things, regarding which I am silent, have altered altogether
the condition of affairs. We were in a fair way to conquer, and suddenly
we are conquered. Ah, niece! convince yourself of one thing. As matters
are now, Jacinto deserves something a great deal better than that crazy
girl."

"Caprices and obstinate notions!" responded Maria, with an ill-humor
that was far from respectful. "That's a pretty thing to say now, uncle!
The great minds are outshining themselves, now. Dona Perfecta with her
lofty ideas, and you with your doubts and fears--of much use either
of you is. It is a pity that God made me such a fool and gave me an
understanding of brick and mortar, as the senora says, for if that
wasn't the case I would soon settle the question."

"You?"

"If she and you had allowed me, it would be settled already."

"By the beating?"

"There's no occasion for you to be frightened or to open your eyes like
that. There is no question of killing any body. What an idea!"

"Beating," said the canon, smiling, "is like scratching--when one begins
one doesn't know when to leave off."

"Bah! say too that I am cruel and blood-thirsty. I wouldn't have the
courage to kill a fly; it's not very likely that I should desire the
death of a man."

"In fine, child, no matter what objections you may make, Senor Don Pepe
Rey will carry off the girl. It is not possible now to prevent it. He
is ready to employ every means, including dishonor. If Rosarito--how
she deceived us with that demure little face and those heavenly eyes,
eh!--if Rosarito, I say, did not herself wish it, then all might be
arranged, but alas! she loves him as the sinner loves Satan; she is
consumed with a criminal passion; she has fallen, niece, into the snares
of the Evil One. Let us be virtuous and upright; let us turn our eyes
away from the ignoble pair, and think no more about either of them."

"You know nothing about women, uncle," said Remedios, with flattering
hypocrisy; "you are a holy man; you do not understand that Rosario's
feeling is only a passing caprice, one of those caprices that are cured
by a sound whipping."

"Niece," said Don Inocencio gravely and sententiously, "when serious
things have taken place, caprices are not called caprices, but by
another name."

"Uncle, you don't know what you are talking about," responded Maria
Remedios, her face flushing suddenly. "What! would you be capable of
supposing that Rosarito--what an atrocity! I will d