–Almost…
–Oh, she will excuse me; don't you think so? The doctor said there was no danger of any kind? -I added; "it is necessary that Charles should know it.
My mother looked at me strangely before answering me:
–And why should it be concealed from him? It is my duty to tell you what I think you must do, since the gentlemen of M*** are to come to-morrow, as they announce. Tell Maria this afternoon. But what can you tell her that would be sufficient to justify your detachment, without disregarding your father's orders? And even if you could speak to her of what he demanded of you, you could not excuse yourself, for there is a cause for doing what you have done these days, which for pride and delicacy's sake you must not discover. That is the result. I must tell Mary the real cause of your sorrow.
–But if you do, if I have been light in believing what I have believed, what will she think of me?
–He will think you less ill, than to consider yourself capable of a fickleness and inconsistency more odious than anything else.
–You are right up to a certain point; but I beg you will not tell Maria anything of what we have just spoken of. I have made a mistake, which has perhaps made me suffer more than her, and I must remedy it; I promise you I will remedy it; I demand only two days to do it properly.
–Well," he said, getting up to leave, "are you going out today?
–Yes, ma'am.
–Where are you going?
I am going to pay Emigdio his welcome visit; and it is indispensable, for I sent word to him yesterday with his father's butler to expect me to lunch to-day.
–But you'll be back early.
–At four or five o'clock.
–Come and eat here.
–Are you satisfied with me again?
–Of course not," he replied, smiling. Till the evening, then: you will give the ladies my best regards, from me and the girls.
Chapter XVIII
I was ready to go, when Emma came into my room. She was surprised to see me with a laughing countenance.
–Where are you going so happy," he asked me.
–I wish I didn't have to go anywhere. To see Emigdio, who complains of my inconstancy in every tone, whenever I meet him.
–How unfair! -he exclaimed with a laugh. Unfair you?
–What are you laughing at?
–Poor thing!
–No, no: you're laughing at something else.
–That's just it," said he, taking a comb from my bath-table, and coming up to me. Let me comb your hair for you, for you know, Mr. Constant, that one of your friend's sisters is a pretty girl. Pity," she continued, combing the hair with the help of her graceful hands, "that Master Ephraim has grown a little pale these days, for the bugueñas can't imagine manly beauty without fresh colours on their cheeks. But if Emigdio's sister were aware of....
–You are very talkative today.
–Yes? and you're very cheerful. Look in the mirror and tell me if you don't look good.
–What a visit! -I exclaimed, hearing Maria's voice calling my sister.
–Really. How much better it would be to go for a stroll along the peaks of the boquerón de Amaime and enjoy the… great and solitary landscape, or to walk through the mountains like wounded cattle, shooing away mosquitoes, without prejudice to the fact that May is full of nuches…, poor thing, it is impossible.
–Maria is calling you," I interrupted.
–I know what it's for.
–What for?
–To help him do something he shouldn't do.
–Can you tell which one?
–She is waiting for me to go and fetch flowers to replace these," said she, pointing to those in the vase on my table; "and if I were her, I should not put another one in there.
