Miguel, though he had as yet said nothing about it, had made up his mind
to live in a separate house, though it should be near his step-mother's.
When Julita learned this decision, she felt deeply grieved, and could
not help being indignant with her brother. It was not long, though,
before she came to see that he was right.
_La brigadiera_ treated Maximina with all the kindness of which she was
capable; Julita overwhelmed her with attentions and caresses, but,
nevertheless, it was impossible to overcome her diffidence. She did not
dare ask for anything which she wanted, and so time and again she went
without it. At table, when she wished to be helped to anything, the most
that she would do would be to give Miguel a covert hint to have it
passed. She never thought of giving any orders to the house-servants;
only her maid Juana she ventured to call to her aid in the various
requirements of her position.
Miguel began to feel a little annoyed about it, because he could not
help imagining that his wife, in spite of her happy face, was not very
well contented where she was, and he had even gently chided her for her
lack of confidence.
One day not long after their arrival, as he was coming in from out of
doors, and was just about going to his rooms, Juana called him aside,
with an air of great mystery, and said:--
"Senorito, I want to tell you something that you ought to know.... La
senorita has been used to have a lunch when she was at home.... And here
she does not like to ask for it.... To-day she sent me out to buy a few
biscuits.... See, I have them here."
"Why, my poor little girl!" exclaimed Miguel, in real grief. "But how
foolish of her!"
"Don't for Heaven's sake let her know that I told you, for then she
would not trust me any longer."
"How careless I have been."