"If such a thing happened in my case, and I knew of it, I am certain
what I should do.... The first thing would be to turn my wife out of
doors, whether it were night or day, the moment I found it out...."
Poor Maximina was startled at such an outburst, as brutal as it was
unexpected, and she exclaimed:--
"You would do well. Heavens! how shameful for a woman to be so
brazen!... How much better it would be for her to die!"
The frown vanished from Miguel's brow; he looked tenderly at his wife,
and feeling that such a talk was both useless and out of place, he
kissed her hand, and said:--
"Why should we need to talk about the evil things that are done in the
world? Fortunately, I have found a means of salvation: it is this hand;
I will cling hold of it and be sure of being true and pure all my life
long."
"You ought to ask forgiveness of God."
"I ask forgiveness of God and you, too?"
"As for me, I freely grant it."
"Then God will, also."
"How can you know that?... Ah, how foolish I am! I had forgotten that
you went to confession only a few days ago."
"Yes; that was the way," said Miguel, who had likewise forgotten about
it.
Afterwards, they talked about their domestic arrangement, their
furniture, and the servants that they needed to hire.
Maximina argued that Juana and a cook would be sufficient. Miguel wanted
another girl to do the sewing and laundry work. It was for this reason
that he explained to his wife the extent of their resources.
"I have four thousand _duros_[10] income, but I want to let my sister
and mamma have a thousand, so that they may live decently; ... with
three thousand _duros_ a year we can get along first-rate."
"Oh! indeed we can.... Why don't you let your mamma and sister have
half? Just think; they are used to luxury, and I am not.... I can get
along with any kind of clothes."
"It is because I do not wish you to get along with any kind of clothes,
but I want you to dress suitably."
"If you only knew how much it would please me to have you give half to
your sister."
"It is impossible.... We must remember the possibility of children."
"Still, you would have a good deal left."
"You don't realize how much it costs to live in Madrid, dear."