dona perecta-第33章

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and　that　she　cannot　reject　the　proposal　made　by　him。　A　difficult　situation！　But　what　do　I　do　in　view　of　all　this？　Ah；　you　don't　know　every　thing！　I　will　be　frank　with　you。　If　I　had　found　Senor　de　Rey　to　be　a　man　of　good　principles；　calculated　to　make　Rosario　happy；　I　would　not　have　interfered　in　the　matter；　but　the　young　man　appeared　to　me　to　be　a　wretch；　and；　as　the　spiritual　director　of　the　house；　it　was　my　duty　to　take　a　hand　in　the　business；　and　I　took　it。　You　know　already　that　I　determined　to　unmask　him。　I　exposed　his　vices；　I　made　manifest　his　atheism；　I　laid　bare　to　the　view　of　all　the　rottenness　of　that　materialistic　heart；　and　the　senora　was　convinced　that　in　giving　her　daughter　to　him；　she　would　be　delivering　her　up　to　vice。　Ah；　what　anxieties　I　endured！　The　senora　vacillated；　I　strengthened　her　wavering　mind；　I　advised　her　concerning　the　means　she　might　lawfully　employ　to　send　her　nephew　away　without　scandal。　I　suggested　ingenious　ideas　to　her；　and　as　she　often　spoke　to　me　of　the　scruples　that　troubled　her　tender　conscience；　I　tranquillized　her；　pointing　out　to　her　how　far　it　was　allowable　for　us　to　go　in　our　fight　against　that　lawless　enemy。　Never　did　I　counsel　violent　or　sanguinary　measures　or　base　outrages；　but　always　subtle　artifices；　in　which　there　was　no　sin。　My　mind　is　tranquil；　my　dear　niece。　But　you　know　that　I　struggled　hard；　that　I　worked　like　a　negro。　Ah！　when　I　used　to　come　home　every　night　and　say；　'Mariquilla；　we　are　getting　on　well；　we　are　getting　on　very　well；'　you　used　to　be　wild　with　delight；　and　you　would　kiss　my　hands　again　and　again；　and　say　I　was　the　best　man　on　earth。　Why　do　you　fly　into　a　passion　now；　disfiguring　your　noble　character　and　peaceable　disposition？　Why　do　you　scold　me？　Why　do　you　say　that　you　are　indignant；　and　tell　me　in　plain　terms　that　I　am　nothing　better　than　an　idiot？〃

〃Because；〃　said　the　woman；　without　any　diminution　of　her　rage；　〃because　you　have　grown　faint…hearted　all　of　a　sudden。〃

〃The　thing　is　that　every　thing　is　going　against　us；　woman。　That　confounded　engineer；　protected　as　he　is　by　the　army；　is　resolved　to　dare　every　thing。　The　girl　loves　him；　the　girlI　will　say　no　more。　It　cannot　be；　I　tell　you　that　it　cannot　be。〃

〃The　army！　But　do　you　believe；　like　Dona　Perfecta；　that　there　is　going　to　be　a　war；　and　that　to　drive　Don　Pepe　from　the　town　it　will　be　necessary　for　one　half　of　the　nation　to　rise　up　against　the　other　half？　The　senora　has　lost　her　senses；　and　you　are　in　a　fair　way　to　lose　yours。〃

〃I　believe　as　she　does。　In　view　of　the　intimate　connection　of　Rey　with　the　soldiers　the　personal　question　assumes　larger　proportions。　But；　ah；　niece！　if　two　days　ago　I　entertained　the　hope　that　our　valiant　townsmen　would　kick　the　soldiers　out　of　the　town；　since　I　have　seen　the　turn　things　have　taken；　since　I　have　seen　that　most　of　them　have　been　surprised　before　fighting；　and　that　Caballuco　is　in　hiding　and　that　the　insurrection　is　going　to　the　devil；　I　have　lost　confidence　in　every　thing。　The　good　doctrines　have　not　yet　acquired　sufficient　material　force　to　tear　in　pieces　the　ministers　and　the　emissaries　of　error。　Ah；　niece！　resignation；　resignation！〃

And　Don　Inocencio；　employing　the　method　of　expression　which　characterized　his　niece；　heaved　two　or　three　profound　sighs。　Maria；　contrary　to　what　might　have　been　expected；　maintained　absolute　silence。　She　showed　now　neither　anger　nor　the　superficial　sentimentality　of　her　ordinary　life；　but　only　a　profound　and　humble　grief。　Shortly　after　the　good　canon　had　ended　his　peroration　two　tears　rolled　down　his　niece's　rosy　cheeks；　before　long　were　heard　a　few　half…suppressed　sighs；　and　gradually；　as　the　swell　and　tumult　of　a　sea　that　is　beginning　to　be　stormy　rise　higher　and　higher　and　become　louder　and　louder；　so　the　surge　of　Maria　Remedios'　grief　rose　and　swelled；　until　it　at　last　broke　forth　in　a　flood　of　tears。



CHAPTER　XXVII

A　CANON'S　TORTURE

〃Resignation；　resignation！〃　repeated　Don　Inocencio。

〃Resignation；　resignation！〃　repeated　his　niece；　drying　her　tears。　〃If　my　dear　son　is　doomed　to　be　always　a　beggar；　well；　then；　be　it　so。　Lawsuits　are　becoming　scarce；　the　day　will　soon　come　when　the　practice　of　the　law　will　be　the　same　as　nothing。　What　is　the　use　of　all　his　talent？　What　is　the　use　of　his　tiring　his　brain　with　so　much　study？　Ah！　We　are　poor。　A　day　will　come；　Senor　Don　Inocencio；　when　my　poor　boy　will　not　have　a　pillow　on　which　to　lay　his　head。〃

〃Woman！〃

〃Man！　can　you　deny　it？　Tell　me；　then；　what　inheritance　are　you　going　to　leave　him　when　you　close　your　eyes　on　this　world？　A　couple　of　rooms；　half　a　dozen　big　books；　poverty；　and　nothing　more。　What　times　are　before　us；　uncle；　what　times！　My　poor　boy　is　growing　very　delicate　in　his　health；　and　he　won't　be　able　to　workit　makes　him　dizzy　now　to　read　a　book；　he　gets　a　headache　and　nausea　whenever　he　works　at　night！　He　will　have　to　beg　a　paltry　situation；　I　shall　have　to　take　in　sewing；　and　who　knows；　who　knows　but　we　may　have　to　beg　our　bread！〃

〃Woman！〃

〃Oh；　I　know　very　well　what　I　am　talking　about！　Fine　times　before　us！〃　added　the　excellent　woman；　forcing　still　more　the　lachrymose　note　in　her　diatribe。　〃My　God！　What　is　going　to　become　of　us？　Ah；　it　is　only　a　mother's　heart　that　can　feel　these　things！　Only　a　mother　is　capable　of　suffering　so　much　anxiety　about　a　son's　welfare。　How　should　you　understand　it？　No；　it　is　one　thing　to　have　children　and　to　suffer　anxiety　on　their　account　and　another　to　sing　the　/gori　gori/　in　the　cathedral　and　to　teach　Latin　in　the　institute。　Of　great　use　is　it　for　my　son　to　be　your　nephew　and　to　have　taken　so　many　honors　and　to　be　the　pride　and　ornament　of　Orbajosa。　He　will　die　of　starvation；　for　we　already　know　what　law　brings；　or　else　he　will　have　to　ask　the　deputies　for　a　situation　in　Havana；　where　the　yellow　fever　will　kill　him。〃

〃But；　niece〃

〃No；　I　am　not　grieving；　I　am　silent　now；　I　won't　annoy　you　any　more。　I　am　very　troublesome；　always　crying　and　sighing；　and　I　am　not　to　be　endured　because　I　am　a　fond　mother　and　I　will　look　out　for　the　good　of　my　beloved　son。　I　will　die；　yes；　I　will　die　in　silence；　and　stifle　my　grief。　I　will　swallow　my　tears；　in　order　not　to　annoy　his　reverence　the　canon。　But　my　idolized　son　will　comprehend　me　and　he　won't　put　his　hands　to　his　ears　as　you　are　doing　now。　Woe　is　me！　Poor　Jacinto　knows　that　I　would　die　for　him；　and　that　I　would　purchase　his　happiness　at　the　sacrifice　of　my　life。　Darling　child　of　my　soul！　To　be　so　deserving　and　to　be　forever　doomed　to　mediocrity；　to　a　humble　station；　fordon't　get　indignant；　uncleno　matter　what　airs　we　put　on；　you　will　always　be　the　son　of　Uncle　Tinieblas；　the　sacristan　of　San　Bernardo；　and　I　shall　never　be　any　thing　more　than　the　daughter　of　Ildefonso　Tinieblas；　your　brother；　who　used　to　sell　crockery；　and　my　son　will　be　the　grandson　of　the　Tinieblasfor　obscure　we　were　born；　and　we　shall　never　emerge　from　our　obscurity；　nor　own　a　piece　of　land　of　which　we　can　say；　'This　is　mine'；　nor　shall　I　ever　plunge　my　arms　up　to　the　elbows　in　a　sack　of　wheat　threshed　and　winnowed　on　our　own　threshing…floorall　because　of　your　cowardice；　your　folly；　your　soft…heartedness。〃

〃Butbut；　niece！〃

The　canon's　voice　rose　higher　every　time　he　repeated　this　phrase；　and；　with　his　hands　to　his　ears；　he　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side　with　a　look　of　mingled　grief　and　desperation。　The　shrill　complaint　of　Maria　Remedios　grew　constantly　shriller；　and　pierced　the　brain　of　the　unhappy　and　now　dazed　priest　like　an　arrow。　But　all　at　once　the　woman's　face　became　transformed；　her　plaintive　wail　was　changed　to　a　hard；　shrill　scream；　she　turned　pale；　her　lips　trembled；　she　clenched　her　hands；　a　few　locks　of　her　disordered　hair　fell　over　her　forehead；　her　eyes　glittered；　dried　by　the　heat　of　the　anger　that　glowed　in　her　breast；　she　rose　from　her　seat　and；　not　like　a　woman；　but　like　a　harpy；　cried：

〃I　am　going　away　from　here！　I　am　going　away　from　here　with　my　son！　We　will　go　to　Madrid；　I　don't　want　my　son　to　fret　himself　to　death　in　this　miserable　town！　I　am　tired　now　of　seeing　that　my　son；　under　the　protection　of　the　cassock；　neither　is　nor　ever　will　be　any　thing。　Do　you　hear；　my　reverend　uncle？　My　son　and　I　are　going　away！　You　will　never　see　us　againnever！〃

Don　Inocencio　had　clasped　his　hands　and　was　receiving　the　thunderbolts　of　his　niece's　wrath　with　the　consternation　of　a　criminal　whom　the　presence　of　the　executioner　has　deprived　of　his　last　hope。

〃In　Heaven's　name；　Remedios；〃　he　murmured；　in　a　pained　voice；　〃in　the　name　of　the　Holy　Virgin〃

These　fits　of　range　of　his　niece；　who　was　usually　so　meek；　were　as　violent　as　they　were　rare；　and　five　or　six　years　would　sometimes　pass　without　Don　Inocencio　seeing　Remedios　transformed　into　a　fury。

〃I　am　a　mother！　I　am　a　mother！　and　since　no　one　else　will　look　out　for　my　son；　I　will　look　out　for　him　myself！〃　roared　the　improvised　lioness。

〃In　the　name　of　the　Virgin；　niece；　don't　let　your　passion　get　the　best　of　you！　Remember　that　you　are　committing　a　sin。　Let　us　say　the　Lord's　Prayer　and　an　Ave　Maria；　and　you　will　see　that　this　will　pass　away。〃

As　he　said　this　the　Penitentiary　trembled；　and　the　perspiration　stood　on　his　forehead。　Poor　dove　in　the　talons　of　the　vulture！　The　furious　woman　completed　his　discomfiture　with　these　words：

〃You　are　good　for　nothing；　you　are　a　poltroon！　My　son　and　I　will　go　away　from　this　place　forever；　forever！　I　will　get　a　position　for　my　son；　I　will　find　him　a　good　position；　do　you　understand？　Just　as　I　would　be　willing　to　sweep　the　streets　with　my　tongue　if　I　could　gain　a　living　for　him　in　no　other　way；　so　I　will　move　heaven　and　earth　to　find　a　position　for　my　boy　in　order　that　he　may　rise　in　the　world　and　be　rich；　and　a　person　of　consequence；　and　a　gentleman；　and　a　lord　and　great；　and　all　that　there　is　to　beall；　all！〃

〃Heaven　protect　me！〃　cried　Don　Inocencio；　sinking　into　a　chair　and　letting　his　head　fall　on　his　breast。

There　was　a　pause　during　which　the　agitated　breathing　of　the　furious　woman　could　be　heard。

〃Niece；〃　said　Don　Inocencio　at　last；　〃you　have　shortened　my　life　by　ten　years；　you　have　set　my　blood　on　fire；　you　have　put　me　beside　myself。　God　give　me　the　calmness　that　I　need　to　bear　with　you！　Lord；　patience　patience　is　what　I　ask。　And　you；　niece；　do　me　the　favor　to　sigh　and　cry　to　your　heart's　content　for　the　next　ten　years；　for　your　confounded　mania　of　sniveling；　greatly　as　it　annoys　me；　is　preferable　to　these　mad　fits　of　rage。　If　I　did　not　know　that　you　are　good　at　heart　Well；　for　one　who　confessed　and　received　communion　this　morning　you　are　behaving〃

〃Yes；　but　you　are　the　cause　of　ityou！〃

〃Because　in　the　matter　of　Rosario　and　Jacinto　I　say　to　you；　resignation？〃

〃Because　when　every　thing　is　going　on　well　you　turn　back　and　allow　Senor　de　Rey　to　get　possession　of　Rosario。〃

〃And　how　am　I　going　to　prevent　it？　Dona　Perfecta　is　right　in　saying　that　you　have　an　understanding　of　brick。　Do　you　want　me　to　go　about　the　town　with　a　sword；　and　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye　to　make　mincemeat　of　the　whole　regiment；　and　then　confront　Rey　and　say　to　him；　'Leave　the　girl　in　peace　or　I　will　cut　your　throat'？〃

〃No；　but　when　I　advised　the　senora　to　give　her　nephew　a　fright；　you　opposed　my　advice；　instead　of　supporting　it。〃

〃You　are　crazy　with　your　talk　about　a　fright。〃

〃Because　whe