After a quarter of a league, I crossed the waves of the Nima, humble, diaphanous and smooth, which rolled illuminated until they were lost in the shadows of silent forests. I left the pampa of Santa R., whose house, in the midst of ceiba groves and under the group of palm trees that raise their foliage above its roof, resembles on moonlit nights the tent of an oriental king hanging from the trees of an oasis.
It was two o'clock in the morning when, after crossing the village of P***, I dismounted at the door of the house where the doctor lived.
Chapter XVI
In the evening of the same day the doctor took leave of us, after leaving Maria almost completely recovered, and having prescribed a regimen to prevent a recurrence of the access, and promised to visit her frequently. I was unspeakably relieved to hear him assure her that there was no danger, and for him, twice as fond as I had hitherto been of her, just because such a speedy recovery was predicted for Maria. I went into her room, as soon as the doctor and my father, who was to accompany him a league's journey, had set out. She was just finishing braiding her hair, looking at herself in a mirror that my sister held up on the cushions. Blushing, she pushed the piece of furniture aside and said to me:
–These are not the occupations of a sick woman, are they? but I am well enough. I hope I shall never again cause you such a dangerous journey as last night.
–There was no danger on that trip," I replied.
–The river, yes, the river! I thought of that and of so many things that could happen to you because of me.
A three-league journey? You call this…?
–That voyage on which you might have drowned," said the doctor here, so surprised, that he had not yet pressed me, and was already talking about it. You and he, on your return, had to wait two hours for the river to go down.
–The doctor on horseback is a mule; and his patient mule is not the same as a good horse.
–The man who lives in the little house by the pass," Maria interrupted me, "when he recognised your black horse this morning, he was amazed that the rider who jumped into the river last night had not drowned just as he was shouting to him that there was no ford. Oh, no, no; I don't want to get sick again. Hasn't the doctor told you that I won't get sick again?
–Yes," I replied; "and he has promised me not to let two days in succession pass in this fortnight without coming to see you.
–Then you won't have to make another overnight trip. What would I have done if I…
–You would have cried a lot, wouldn't you? -I replied with a smile.
He looked at me for a few moments, and I added:
–Can I be sure of dying at any time convinced that…
–From what?
And guessing the rest in my eyes:
–Always, always! -she added almost secretly, appearing to examine the beautiful lace on the cushions.
–And I have very sad things to say to you," he continued after a few moments' silence; "so sad, that they are the cause of my illness. You were on the mountain. Mamma knows all about it; and I heard papa tell her that my mother had died of a disease whose name I never heard; that you were destined to make a fine career; and that I – I – I don't know whether it's a matter of the heart or not. Ah, I don't know whether what I heard is true – I don't deserve that you should be as you are with me.
