dona perecta-第11章

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e　much　of　my　time　to　those　studies。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　canon；　laughing；　〃it　all　reduces　itself　to　this；　that　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　lessonyou　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　that　you　can　enter　a　temple　in　which　the　Divine　Majesty　is　in　the　same　manner。〃

〃But　excuse　me；　senora；〃　said　Pepe　gravely；　〃I　entered　the　cathedral　with　the　greatest　decorum。〃

〃But　I　am　not　scolding　you；　man；　I　am　not　scolding　you。　If　you　take　it　in　that　way　I　shall　have　to　remain　silent。　Excuse　my　nephew；　gentlemen。　A　little　carelessness；　a　little　heedlessness　on　his　part　is　not　to　be　wondered　at。　How　many　years　is　it　since　you　set　foot　in　a　sacred　place　before？〃

〃Senora；　I　assure　you　But；　in　short；　let　my　religious　ideas　be　what　they　may；　I　am　in　the　habit　of　observing　the　utmost　decorum　in　church。〃

〃What　I　assure　you　is　There；　if　you　are　going　to　be　offended　I　won't　go　on。　What　I　assure　you　is　that　a　great　many　people　noticed　it　this　morning。　The　Senores　de　Gonzalez；　Dona　Robustiana；　Serafinitain　short；　when　I　tell　you　that　you　attracted　the　attention　of　the　bishop　His　lordship　complained　to　me　about　it　this　afternoon　when　I　was　at　my　cousin's。　He　told　me　that　he　did　not　order　you　to　be　put　out　of　the　church　only　because　you　were　my　nephew。〃

Rosario　looked　anxiously　at　her　cousin；　trying　to　read　in　his　countenance；　before　he　uttered　it；　the　answer　he　would　make　to　these　charges。

〃No　doubt　they　mistook　me　for　some　one　else。〃

〃No；　no！　it　was　you。　But　there；　don't　get　angry！　We　are　talking　here　among　friends　and　in　confidence。　It　was　you。　I　saw　you　myself。〃

〃You　saw　me！〃

〃Just　so。　Will　you　deny　that　you　went　to　look　at　the　pictures；　passing　among　a　group　of　worshippers　who　were　hearing　mass？　I　assure　you　that　my　attention　was　so　distracted　by　your　comings　and　goings　thatwell；　you　must　not　do　it　again。　Then　you　went　into　the　chapel　of　San　Gregorio。　At　the　elevation　of　the　Host　at　the　high　altar　you　did　not　even　turn　around　to　make　a　gesture　of　reverence。　Afterward　you　traversed　the　whole　length　of　the　church；　you　went　up　to　the　tomb　of　the　Adelantado；　you　touched　the　altar　with　your　hands；　then　you　passed　a　second　time　among　a　group　of　worshippers；　attracting　the　notice　of　every　one。　All　the　girls　looked　at　you；　and　you　seemed　pleased　at　disturbing　so　finely　the　devotions　of　those　good　people。〃

〃Good　Heavens！　How　many　things　I　have　done！〃　exclaimed　Pepe；　half　angry；　half　amused。　〃I　am　a　monster；　it　seems；　without　ever　having　suspected　it。〃

〃No；　I　am　very　well　aware　that　you　are　a　good　boy；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　observing　the　canon's　expression　of　unalterable　gravity；　which　gave　his　face　the　appearance　of　a　pasteboard　mask。　〃But；　my　dear　boy；　between　thinking　things　and　showing　them　in　that　irreverent　manner；　there　is　a　distance　which　a　man　of　good　sense　and　good　breeding　should　never　cross。　I　am　well　aware　that　your　ideas　are　Now；　don't　get　angry！　If　you　get　angry；　I　will　be　silent。　I　say　that　it　is　one　thing　to　have　certain　ideas　about　religion　and　another　thing　to　express　them。　I　will　take　good　care　not　to　reproach　you　because　you　believe　that　God　did　not　create　us　in　his　image　and　likeness；　but　that　we　are　descended　from　the　monkeys；　nor　because　you　deny　the　existence　of　the　soul；　asserting　that　it　is　a　drug；　like　the　little　papers　of　rhubarb　and　magnesia　that　are　sold　at　the　apothecary's〃

〃Senora；　for　Heaven's　sake！〃　exclaimed　Pepe；　with　annoyance。　〃I　see　that　I　have　a　very　bad　reputation　in　Orbajosa。〃

The　others　remained　silent。

〃As　I　said；　I　will　not　reproach　you　for　entertaining　those　ideas。　And；　besides；　I　have　not　the　right　to　do　so。　If　I　should　undertake　to　argue　with　you；　you；　with　your　wonderful　talents；　would　confute　me　a　thousand　times　over。　No；　I　will　not　attempt　any　thing　of　that　kind。　What　I　say　is　that　these　poor　and　humble　inhabitants　of　Orbajosa　are　pious　and　good　Christians；　although　they　know　nothing　about　German　philosophy；　and　that；　therefore；　you　ought　not　publicly　to　manifest　your　contempt　for　their　beliefs。〃

〃My　dear　aunt；〃　said　the　engineer　gravely；　〃I　have　shown　no　contempt　for　any　one；　nor　do　I　entertain　the　ideas　which　you　attribute　to　me。　Perhaps　I　may　have　been　a　little　wanting　in　reverence　in　the　church。　I　am　somewhat　absent…minded。　My　thoughts　and　my　attention　were　engaged　with　the　architecture　of　the　building　and；　frankly　speaking；　I　did　not　observe　But　this　was　no　reason　for　the　bishop　to　think　of　putting　me　out　of　the　church；　nor　for　you　to　suppose　me　capable　of　attributing　to　a　paper　from　the　apothecary's　the　functions　of　the　soul。　I　may　tolerate　that　as　a　jest；　but　only　as　a　jest。〃

The　agitation　of　Pepe　Rey's　mind　was　so　great　that；　notwithstanding　his　natural　prudence　and　moderation；　he　was　unable　to　conceal　it。

〃There！　I　see　that　you　are　angry；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　casting　down　her　eyes　and　clasping　her　hands。　〃I　am　very　sorry。　If　I　had　known　that　you　would　have　taken　it　in　that　way；　I　should　not　have　spoken　to　you。　Pepe；　I　ask　your　pardon。〃

Hearing　these　words　and　seeing　his　kind　aunt's　deprecating　attitude；　Pepe　felt　ashamed　of　the　sternness　of　his　last　words；　and　he　made　an　effort　to　recover　his　serenity。　The　venerable　Penitentiary　extricated　him　from　his　embarrassing　position；　saying　with　his　accustomed　benevolent　smile：

〃Senora　Dona　Perfecta；　we　must　be　tolerant　with　artists。　Oh；　I　have　known　a　great　many　of　them！　Those　gentlemen；　when　they　have　before　them　a　statue；　a　piece　of　rusty　armor；　a　mouldy　painting；　or　an　old　wall；　forget　every　thing　else。　Senor　Don　Jose　is　an　artist；　and　he　has　visited　our　cathedral　as　the　English　visit　it；　who　would　willingly　carry　it　away　with　them　to　their　museums；　to　its　last　tile；　if　they　could。　That　the　worshippers　were　praying；　that　the　priest　was　elevating　the　Sacred　Host；　that　the　moment　of　supreme　piety　and　devotion　had　comewhat　of　that？　What　does　all　that　matter　to　an　artist？　It　is　true　that　I　do　not　know　what　art　is　worth；　apart　from　the　sentiments　which　it　expresses；　but；　in　fine；　at　the　present　day；　it　is　the　custom　to　adore　the　form；　not　the　idea。　God　preserve　me　from　undertaking　to　discuss　this　question　with　Senor　Don　Jose；　who　knows　so　much；　and　who；　reasoning　with　the　admirable　subtlety　of　the　moderns；　would　instantly　confound　my　mind；　in　which　there　is　only　faith。〃

〃The　determination　which　you　all　have　to　regard　me　as　the　most　learned　man　on　earth　annoys　me　exceedingly；〃　said　Pepe；　speaking　in　his　former　hard　tone。　〃Hold　me　for　a　fool；　for　I　would　rather　be　regarded　as　a　fool　than　as　the　possessor　of　that　Satanic　knowledge　which　is　here　attributed　to　me。〃

Rosarito　laughed；　and　Jacinto　thought　that　a　highly　opportune　moment　had　now　arrived　to　make　a　display　of　his　own　erudition。

〃Pantheism　or　panentheism；〃　he　said；　〃is　condemned　by　the　Church；　as　well　as　by　the　teachings　of　Schopenhauer　and　of　the　modern　Hartmann。〃

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　said　the　canon　gravely；　〃men　who　pay　so　fervent　a　worship　to　art；　though　it　be　only　to　its　form；　deserve　the　greatest　respect。　It　is　better　to　be　an　artist；　and　delight　in　the　contemplation　of　beauty；　though　this　be　only　represented　by　nude　nymphs；　than　to　be　indifferent　and　incredulous　in　every　thing。　The　mind　that　consecrates　itself　to　the　contemplation　of　beauty；　evil　will　not　take　complete　possession　of。　/Est　Deus　in　nobis/。　/Deus/；　be　it　well　understood。　Let　Senor　Don　Jose；　then；　continue　to　admire　the　marvels　of　our　church；　I；　for　one；　will　willingly　forgive　him　his　acts　of　irreverence；　with　all　due　respect　for　the　opinions　of　the　bishop。〃

〃Thanks；　Senor　Don　Inocencio；〃　said　Pepe；　feeling　a　bitter　and　rebellious　sentiment　of　hostility　springing　up　within　him　toward　the　canon；　and　unable　to　conquer　his　desire　to　mortify　him。　〃But　let　none　of　you　imagine；　either；　that　it　was　the　beauties　of　art；　of　which　you　suppose　the　temple　to　be　full；　that　engaged　my　attention。　Those　beauties；　with　the　exception　of　the　imposing　architecture　of　a　portion　of　the　edifice　and　of　the　three　tombs　that　are　in　the　chapel　of　the　apse；　I　do　not　see。　What　occupied　my　mind　was　the　consideration　of　the　deplorable　decadence　of　the　religious　arts；　and　the　innumerable　monstrosities；　of　which　the　cathedral　is　full；　caused　me　not　astonishment；　but　disgust。〃

The　amazement　of　all　present　was　profound。

〃I　cannot　endure；〃　continued　Pepe；　〃those　glazed　and　painted　images　that　resemble　so　muchGod　forgive　me　for　the　comparisonthe　dolls　that　little　girls　pay　with。　And　what　am　I　to　say　of　the　theatrical　robes　that　cover　them？　I　saw　a　St。　Joseph　with　a　mantle　whose　appearance　I　will　not　describe；　out　of　respect　for　the　holy　patriarch　and　for　the　church　of　which　he　is　the　patron。　On　the　altar　are　crowded　together　images　in　the　worst　possible　taste；　and　the　innumerable　crowns；　branches；　stars；　moons；　and　other　ornaments　of　metal　or　gilt　paper　have　an　air　of　an　ironmongery　that　offends　the　religious　sentiment　and　depresses　the　soul。　Far　from　lifting　itsel