dona perecta-第32章

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k　at　him；　for　which　reason　he　asked　her　politely　for　an　explanation　of　her　coldness；　to　which　she　replied　requesting　Senor　Pinzon　to　leave　her　house；　deferring　to　a　future　occasion　the　explanation　which　she　would　require　from　him　of　his　perfidious　conduct　while　in　it。　Don　Cayetano　arriving　at　this　moment；　words　were　exchanged　between　the　two　gentlemen；　as　between　man　and　man；　but　as　we　are　more　interested　at　present　in　another　matter；　we　will　leave　the　Polentinos　and　the　lieutenant…colonel　to　settle　matters　between　them　as　best　they　can；　and　proceed　to　examine　the　question　of　the　sources　above　mentioned。

Let　us　fix　our　attention　on　Maria　Remedios；　an　estimable　woman；　to　whom　it　is　indispensably　necessary　to　devote　a　few　words。　She　was　a　lady；　a　real　ladyfor；　notwithstanding　her　humble　origin；　the　virtues　of　her　uncle；　Senor　Don　Inocencio；　also　of　low　origin；　but　elevated　by　his　learning　and　his　estimable　qualities；　had　shed　extraordinary　lustre　over　the　whole　family。

The　love　of　Remedios　for　Jacinto　was　one　of　the　strongest　passions　of　which　the　maternal　heart　is　capable。　She　loved　him　with　delirium；　her　son's　welfare　was　her　first　earthly　consideration；　she　regarded　him　as　the　most　perfect　type　of　beauty　and　talent　ever　created　by　God；　and　to　see　him　happy　and　great　and　powerful　she　would　have　given　her　whole　life　and　even　a　part　of　the　life　to　come。　The　maternal　sentiment　is　the　only　one　which；　because　of　its　nobility　and　its　sanctity；　will　admit　of　exaggeration；　the　only　one　which　the　delirium　of　passion　does　not　debase。　Nevertheless　it　is　a　singular　phenomenon；　frequently　observed；　that　this　exaltation　of　maternal　affection；　if　not　accompanied　with　absolute　purity　of　heart　and　with　perfect　uprightness　is　apt　to　become　perverted　and　transformed　into　a　lamentable　frenzy；　which　may　lead；　like　any　other　ungoverned　passion；　to　great　errors　and　catastrophies。

In　Orbajosa　Maria　Remedios　passed　for　a　model　of　virtue　and　a　model　nieceperhaps　she　was　so　in　reality。　She　served　with　affection　all　who　needed　her　services；　she　never　gave　occasion　for　gossip　or　for　scandal；　she　never　mixed　herself　up　in　intrigues。　She　carried　her　religion　to　the　extreme　of　an　offensive　fanaticism；　she　practised　charity；　she　managed　her　uncle's　house　with　the　utmost　ability；　she　was　well　received；　admired　and　kindly　treated　everywhere；　in　spite　of　the　almost　intolerable　annoyance　produced　by　her　persistent　habit　of　sighing　and　speaking　always　in　a　complaining　voice。

But　in　Dona　Perfecta's　house　this　excellent　lady　suffered　a　species　of　/capitis　diminutio/。　In　times　far　distant　and　very　bitter　for　the　family　of　the　good　Penitentiary；　Maria　Remedios　（since　it　is　the　truth；　why　should　it　not　be　told？）　had　been　a　laundress　in　the　house　of　Polentinos。　And　let　it　not　be　supposed　that　Dona　Perfecta　looked　down　upon　her　on　this　accountnothing　of　the　kind。　She　behaved　to　her　without　any　haughtiness；　she　felt　a　real　sisterly　affection　for　her；　they　ate　together；　they　prayed　together；　they　confided　their　troubles　to　each　other；　they　aided　each　other　in　their　charities　and　in　their　devotions　as　well　as　in　domestic　matters；　but；　truth　to　say；　there　was　always　a　something；　there　was　always　a　line；　invisible　but　which　could　not　be　crossed　between　the　improvised　lady　and　the　lady　by　birth　and　ancestry。　Dona　Perfecta　addressed　Maria　as　〃thou；〃　while　the　latter　could　never　lay　aside　certain　ceremonial　forms。　Maria　Remedios　always　felt　herself　so　insignificant　in　the　presence　of　her　uncle's　friend　that　her　natural　humility　had　acquired　through　this　feeling　a　strange　tinge　of　sadness。　She　saw　that　the　good　canon　was　a　species　of　perpetual　Aulic　councillor　in　the　house；　she　saw　her　idolized　Jacintillo　mingling　on　terms　of　almost　lover…like　familiarity　with　the　young　lady；　and　nevertheless　the　poor　mother　and　niece　visited　the　house　as　little　as　possible。　It　is　to　be　observed　that　Maria　Remedios'　dignity　as　a　lady　suffered　not　a　little　in　Dona　Perfecta's　house；　and　this　was　disagreeable　to　her；　for　in　this　sighing　spirit；　too；　there　was；　as　there　is　in　every　living　thing；　a　little　pride。　To　see　her　son　married　to　Rosarito；　to　see　him　rich　and　powerful；　to　see　him　related　to　Dona　Perfecta；　to　the　senoraah！　this　was　for　Maria　Remedios　earth　and　heaven；　this　life　and　the　next；　the　present　and　the　future；　the　supreme　totality　of　existence。　For　years　her　mind　and　her　heart　had　been　filled　by　the　light　of　this　sweet　hope。　Because　of　this　hope　she　was　good　and　she　was　bad；　because　of　it　she　was　religious　and　humble；　or　fierce　and　daring；　because　of　it　she　was　whatever　she　wasfor　without　this　idea　Maria；　who　was　the　incarnation　of　her　project；　would　not　exist。

In　person；　Maria　Remedios　could　not　be　more　insignificant　than　she　was。　She　was　remarkable　for　a　surprising　freshness　and　robustness　which　made　her　look　much　younger　than　she　really　was；　and　she　always　dressed　in　mourning；　although　her　widowhood　was　now　of　long　standing。

Five　days　had　passed　since　the　entrance　of　Caballuco　into　the　Penitentiary's　house。　It　was　evening。　Remedios　entered　her　uncle's　room　with　the　lighted　lamp；　which　she　placed　on　the　table。　She　then　seated　herself　in　front　of　the　old　man；　who；　for　a　great　part　of　the　afternoon；　had　been　sitting　motionless　and　thoughtful　in　his　easy　chair。　His　fingers　supported　his　chin；　wrinkling　up　the　brown　skin；　unshaven　for　the　past　three　days。

〃Did　Caballuco　say　he　would　come　here　to　supper　to…night？〃　he　asked　his　niece。

〃Yes；　senor；　he　will　come。　It　is　in　a　respectable　house　like　this　that　the　poor　fellow　is　most　secure。〃

〃Well；　I　am　not　altogether　easy　in　my　mind；　in　spite　of　the　respectability　of　the　house；〃　answered　the　Penitentiary。　〃How　the　brave　Ramos　exposes　himself！　And　I　am　told　that　in　Villahorrenda　and　the　surrounding　country　there　are　a　great　many　men。　I　don't　know　how　many　men　What　have　you　heard？〃

〃That　the　soldiers　are　committing　atrocities。〃

〃It　is　a　miracle　that　those　Hottentots　have　not　searched　the　house！　I　declare　that　if　I　see　one　of　the　red…trousered　gentry　enter　the　house；　I　shall　fall　down　speechless。〃

〃This　is　a　nice　condition　of　things！〃　said　Remedios；　exhaling　half　her　soul　in　a　sigh。　〃I　cannot　get　out　of　my　head　the　idea　of　the　tribulation　in　which　Senora　Dona　Perfecta　finds　herself。　Uncle；　you　ought　to　go　there。〃

〃Go　there　to…night？　The　military　are　parading　the　streets！　Imagine　that　some　insolent　soldier　should　take　it　into　his　head　to　The　senora　is　well　protected。　The　other　day　they　searched　the　house　and　they　carried　off　the　six　armed　men　she　had　there；　but　afterward　they　sent　them　back　to　her。　We　have　no　one　to　protect　us　in　case　of　an　attack。〃

〃I　sent　Jacinto　to　the　senora's；　to　keep　her　company　for　a　while。　If　Caballuco　comes；　we　will　tell　him　to　stop　in　there；　too。　No　one　can　put　it　out　of　my　head　but　that　those　rascals　are　plotting　some　piece　of　villany　against　our　friend。　Poor　senora；　poor　Rosarito！　When　one　thinks　that　this　might　have　been　avoided　by　what　I　proposed　to　Dona　Perfecta　two　days　ago〃

〃My　dear　niece；〃　said　the　Penitentiary　phlegmatically；　〃we　have　done　all　that　it　was　in　human　power　to　do　to　carry　out　our　virtuous　purpose。　More　we　cannot　do。　Convince　yourself　of　this；　and　do　not　be　obstinate。　Rosarito　cannot　be　the　wife　of　our　idolized　Jacintillo。　Your　golden　dream；　your　ideal　of　happiness；　that　at　one　time　seemed　attainable；　and　to　which　like　a　good　uncle；　I　devoted　all　the　powers　of　my　understanding；　has　become　chimerical；　has　vanished　into　smoke。　Serious　obstructions；　the　wickedness　of　a　man；　the　indubitable　love　of　the　girl；　and　other　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　fearsof　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　scratchingwhen　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　Rosaritohow　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　Rosaritowhat　an　atrocity！　I　will　defend　her；　yes；　I　will　defend　her。　She　is　as　pure　as　an　angel。　Why；　uncle；　those　things　bring　a　blush　to　my　cheek；　and　make　me　indignant　with　you。〃

As　she　spoke　the　good　priest's　face　was　darkened　by　a　cloud　of　sadness　that　made　him　look　ten　years　older。

〃My　dear　Remedios；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　done　all　that　is　humanly　possible；　and　all　that　in　conscience　we　can　or　ought　to　do。　Nothing　could　be　more　natural　than　our　desire　to　see　Jacintillo　connected　with　that　great　family；　the　first　in　Orbajosa；　nothing　more　natural　than　our　desire　to　see　him　master　of　the　seven　houses　in　the　town；　the　meadow　of　Mundogrande；　the　three　gardens　of　the　upper　farm；　La　Encomienda；　and　the　other　lands　and　houses　which　that　girl　owns。　Your　son　has　great　merit；　every　one　knows　it　well。　Rosarito　liked　him；　and　he　liked　Rosarito。　The　matter　seemed　settled。　Dona　Perfecta　herself；　without　being　very　enthusiastic；　doubtless　on　account　of　our　origin；　seemed　favorably　disposed　toward　it；　because　of　her　great　esteem　and　veneration　for　me；　as　her　confessor　and　friend。　But　suddenly　this　unlucky　young　man　presents　himself。　The　senora　tells　me　that　she　has　given　her　word　to　her　brother；　and　that　she　cannot　reject　the　proposal　made　by　him。　A　difficult　situation！　But　what　do　I　do　in　view