"And mamma?"
" ... I like her too," replied the young wife.
He asked her no more questions, but that very day the son of the
brigadier told the landlord that he should not be able to take the third
floor of that house, and chose another in the Plaza de Santa Ana. The
excuse that he gave his family for this change was, that he could not
live so far away from the office of his paper, now that he was going to
take a more active part in the editing of it.
And in truth he did not regret it; it was not long before he became
convinced of the wisdom of his decision, and congratulated himself upon
it. It happened that one day after he had been superintending the
arrangement of his new quarters, he met Maximina, and saw that her eyes
were red as though she had been weeping. His heart told him that
something had gone wrong, and he inquired with solicitude:--
"What is the matter? You have been crying!"
"No," replied the girl, with a smile. "I have just been washing my
face."
"Yes; you washed your face, but you had been crying. Tell me! tell me
quick, what was it?"
"Nothing."
"Very well, then," replied the young man, with determination; "I will
find out."
And he did; Juana told him, though with some confusion of detail, what
had taken place.
"Just listen, senorito; apparently _la senora_ told the senorita several
days ago that she did not like it for her to be so late about getting
dressed, because there might be callers. Ever since, the senorita has
got ready in good season, but to-day she somehow forgot about it, and
_la senora_ scolded her...."
"What did she say?"
"I don't know. _La senorita_ did not want to tell me ... but she cried
hard enough."
Miguel went to his room, flushed with anger.
"Maximina, get ready and pack your trunks.... We are going to leave
this house this very moment.... I cannot allow any one to make you cry."
The young woman sat looking at her husband with an expression rather of
fright than of gratitude.
"But suppose no one made me cry.... I cried without any reason for
it.... I often do so.... You can ask my aunt if that is not so...."
"Nonsense! we are going this very moment."
"Oh, Miguel! for Heaven's sake don't do so."
"Yes; let us go!"
Maximina threw herself into his arms, weeping.
"Don't do this, Miguel! don't do this! Quarrel with your mother for my
sake? I would rather die!"
The young man's anger cooled down a little, and at last he agreed to say
nothing about his vexation, though it was decided that they should go on
the following day and sleep at their new rooms.
This was done; but _la brigadiera_ was not blinded to the facts, and she
easily saw through the motives that led Miguel to hasten his departure.
It is needless to say that from that time Maximina in her eyes lost a
large part of her appreciation.
The carpets were laid in their apartments in the Plaza de la Santa Ana,
but as yet there was little furniture; only the dining-room, one
dressing-room, and their chamber were in order, and that not entirely;
chairs were scattered about over the rest of the house, and this and
that wardrobe and mirror were as they had been left.
Nevertheless, Miguel and Maximina found it delightful. At last they were
by themselves and were masters of their own movements; they were
intoxicated with the delight of their freedom. This feeling of being in
his own house was fascinating to Miguel; he looked upon it as something
new and extraordinary.
Maximina wanted to make the bed herself, but alas! the mattress was so
heavy that she could not turn it. Seeing that she was getting flushed
with exertion, Miguel took hold and helped her get it into shape,
laughing heartily all the time, though he could not have told why. Now
it happened that our young couple had forgotten some of the things that
were indispensable for living; among others, the lamps. When darkness
came on, Juana had to go out in all haste to buy candles and a few
candlesticks, so that they could see to eat their supper.
This first meal all to themselves was delicious. Maximina almost always
had a tremendous appetite, which she felt to be a fault, and tried to
hide it, so that she was apt to leave the table, still hungry. But now,
with only her husband present, and thinking that he would not notice it,
she put on her plate as much as she wanted. When they were through,
Miguel said:--
"You have done well! you have eaten much more than you did during the
days that we were at mamma's."
Maximina flushed as though she had been detected in doing something
wrong. Instantly perceiving what was passing through her mind, Miguel
came to her aid:--
"Come now; I see that you did not eat there because you were so
timid.... You must know that nowadays it is considered fashionable to
eat a good deal.... Besides, there is nothing that gives me so much
pleasure as to see any one have a good appetite; especially if I am fond
of that person! Consequently, if you want to give me a pleasure, you
must try to keep it up.... As far as poor stomachs are concerned, mine
is sufficient in one house."
That evening they determined to stay at home; they went from the
dining-room to the library, which as yet was entirely unfurnished, since
Miguel wished to take his own time and consult his own taste in
selecting the furniture for it. But in the dressing-room there was no
fireplace, while here there was one. Juana kindled the fire and lighted
a couple of candles. Miguel soon blew them out, preferring to let the
fire alone light them. He wanted to go and get a couple of easy-chairs
from the parlor, but Maximina said:--
"Get one for yourself, and not for me.... You will see I am going to sit
down on the floor, for I like it better."
No sooner said than done; she sat down gracefully on the carpeted floor.
Her husband looked at her and smiled.
"Well, then; I am not going to get the chairs at all; I don't want to do
otherwise than you do."
And he sat down by her side in front of the fireplace, the flames of
which lighted up their smiling faces. The husband took his wife's hands,
those plump hands, hardened but not injured by work, and passionately
kissed them again and again. The wife did not want to be less
affectionate than her husband, and after a little hesitation she took
one of his and raised it to her lips. This little touch of innocence
delighted Miguel, and he laughed.
"What makes you laugh?" asked the girl, looking at him in surprise.
"Nothing ... pleasure!"
"No; you laughed in a naughty way.... What were you laughing at?"
"Nothing, I tell you.... It's all your imagination."
"But I tell you that you were laughing at me! Have I done anything
amiss?"
"What could you have done, _tonta_? I laughed because it is not
customary for ladies to kiss the hands of gentlemen!"
"But don't you see.... I am not a lady! and you are my husband!"
"You are right, ..." said he, kissing her; ... "you are right in all
that you say. Always do what your heart prompts you to do, as just now,
and you need not fear of making any mistake."
The bluish flames danced gayly over the top of the coals, rising and
disappearing every instant, as though they were listening to the words
spoken by the young couple, and then hurrying off to report them to some
gnome of the fire.
From time to time a bit of burning cinder would break off from the
glowing mass, fall through the grate, and come rolling down at their
feet. Then Maximina would wait till it had cooled a little, pick it up
in her fingers, and toss it into the coal-hod. The only sound to be
heard was the heavy rumble of carriages driving to the theatre. The
conversation between husband and wife kept growing more and more lively
and free. Maximina gradually lost her feeling of timidity, through the
effect of Miguel's constant endeavors, and she summoned up her courage
to ask him about his past life. The young man answered some of her
questions frankly; others he did not hesitate to parry. Nevertheless,
the young woman gathered that her husband had not been altogether what
he should have been, and she was terrified.
"Ay, Miguel! how could you ever have been audacious enough to kiss a
married woman? Aren't you afraid that God will punish you?"
The young man's face instantly darkened; a deep, ugly frown furrowed his
brow, and for some time he remained lost in thought.
Maximina looked at him, with her eyes opened wide, and could not
understand the reason for such a change in his expression.