It may be that the haciendado had reasons for thus leaving his daughter
alone with Don Rafael, during the few short moments that should elapse
previous to the departure of the young officer.
The voices of the muleteers, who were busily lading the _recua_ of Don
Valerio, scarce reached the ears of the lovers, who were now embarrassed
by the profound silence that reigned in the _sala_. It was the first
time they had found themselves alone, since the arrival of the officer
at the hacienda.
The sun was gilding the tops of the pomegranate trees, where the
parroquets were joyously performing their gymnastic exercises; and the
breeze which caressed the plants in the garden, wafted into the saloon
the perfumes of a thousand flowers. It was a solemn and decisive
moment. Gertrudis, happy, yet trembling for the words of love she
expected to hear, sat with her face partially concealed behind the folds
of her silken _reboso_. In her fingers she still held the scarf she had
been embroidering; but, seeing that this betrayed the trembling of her
hand, she placed it on a table by her side, lest Don Rafael might
observe the emotion of which he was the author. It was the last effort
of virgin pride--its last attempt at resistance before avowing itself
overcome.
"Gertrudis!" said Don Rafael, endeavouring to stifle the pulsations of
his heart, "I have spoken to your father. I wish to consecrate these
few moments--the last I may ever pass in your presence--to an
explanation between us. I implore you, then, to speak, as I intend
speaking myself, without reserve--without ambiguity."
"I promise you that, Don Rafael," responded Gertrudis; "but what
mysterious secret have you been communicating to my father?" added she,
in a tone of gentle raillery.
"I told him," replied the lover, "that I had come hither with my heart
full of _you_; that my father's message summoning me to his presence had
been received by me as a voice calling me to bliss: since it gave me
this opportunity of once more being near you. I told him how I had
hurried over the immense distance that separated us; and how, in order
that I might see you an hour sooner, I had disregarded the howling of
the jaguars, and the threatening voice of the inundation--"
Don Rafael became silent, perhaps from embarrassment, while Gertrudis
still remained in a listening attitude. It was a melody to which she
could have listened for ever!
"And when you told my father," said she, after a pause of silence,
"that--that--you loved me--did he exhibit any astonishment at the
unexpected revelation?"
"No, not any," replied the officer, himself a little surprised at the
question thus put to him.
"That, then, must have been because I had already told him," said the
young beauty, with a smile as sweet as her voice. "But my father--what
answer did he give you?"
"`My dear Don Rafael,' said he to me, `I would be most happy to see our
families united. But this can only be with the consent of Gertrudis,
and the free wish of her heart; and I have no reason to think that her
heart is yours.' Those were the terrible words that proceeded from the
lips of your father. Gertrudis, do your lips confirm them?"
The voice of Don Rafael quivered as he spoke; and this trembling of a
strong man--who never trembled in the presence of danger--was so
delicious to the heart of her who loved him, as to hinder her from
hastening to make reply.
On hearing the answer which her father had given to Don Rafael, the
carnation upon her lips became of a deeper hue. She was biting them to
restrain a smile. Assuming an air of gravity, however, which had the
effect of rendering her lover still more anxious, she at length made
reply--
"Don Rafael!" said she, "you have appealed to my candour, and I shall
speak frankly to you. But swear to me that you will not regard my
sincerity as a crime."
"I swear it, Gertrudis! Speak without fear, though your words should
crush a heart that is entirely your own."
"Only on one condition can I speak freely."
"Name it! it shall be observed."
"It is, that--while I am making my confession to you, you will keep your
eyes fixed upon the tops of those pomegranate trees. Without doing that
you might risk not hearing certain things--in short, an avowal--such as
you might wish."
"I shall try to obey you," answered Don Rafael, turning his gaze towards
the tops of the trees, as if about to study the domestic habits of the
parroquets, that still continued their evolutions among the branches.