dona perecta-第9章

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ung　lawyers；　for　whose　existence　a　fabulous　number　of　lawsuits　are　necessary。　Lawsuits　multiply　in　proportion　to　the　demand。　And　even　thus；　numbers　are　left　without　employment；　and；　as　a　jurisconsult　cannot　put　his　hand　to　the　plough　or　seat　himself　at　the　loom；　the　result　is　that　brilliant　squadron　of　idlers　full　of　pretensions；　who　clamor　for　places；　embarrass　the　administration；　agitate　public　opinion；　and　breed　revolutions。　In　some　way　they　must　make　a　living。　It　would　be　a　greater　misfortune　if　there　were　lawsuits　enough　for　all　of　them。〃

〃Pepe；　for　Heaven's　sake；　take　care　what　you　say；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　in　a　tone　of　marked　severity。　〃But　excuse　him；　Senor　Don　Inocencio；　for　he　is　not　aware　that　you　have　a　nephew　who；　although　he　has　only　lately　left　the　university；　is　a　prodigy　in　the　law。〃

〃I　speak　in　general　terms；〃　said　Pepe；　with　firmness。　〃Being；　as　I　am；　the　son　of　a　distinguished　lawyer；　I　cannot　be　ignorant　of　the　fact　that　there　are　many　men　who　practise　that　noble　profession　with　honor　to　themselves。〃

〃No；　my　nephew　is　only　a　boy　yet；〃　said　the　canon；　with　affected　humility。　〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　assert　that　he　is　a　prodigy　of　learning；　like　Senor　de　Rey。　In　time；　who　can　tell？　His　talents　are　neither　brilliant　nor　seductive。　Of　course；　Jacinto's　ideas　are　solid　and　his　judgment　is　sound。　What　he　knows　he　knows　thoroughly。　He　is　unacquainted　with　sophistries　and　hollow　phrases。〃

Pepe　Rey　appeared　every　moment　more　and　more　disturbed。　The　idea　that；　without　desiring　it；　his　opinions　should　be　in　opposition　to　those　of　the　friends　of　his　aunt；　vexed　him；　and　he　resolved　to　remain　silent　lest　he　and　Don　Inocencio　should　end　by　throwing　the　plates　at　each　other's　heads。　Fortunately　the　cathedral　bell；　calling　the　canon　to　the　important　duties　of　the　choir；　extricated　him　from　his　painful　position。　The　venerable　ecclesiastic　rose　and　took　leave　of　every　one；　treating　Rey　with　as　much　amiability　and　kindness　as　if　they　had　been　old　and　dear　friends。　The　canon；　after　offering　his　services　to　Pepe　for　all　that　he　might　require；　promised　to　present　his　nephew　to　him　in　order　that　the　young　man　might　accompany　him　to　see　the　town；　speaking　in　the　most　affectionate　terms　and　deigning；　on　leaving　the　room；　to　pat　him　on　the　shoulder。　Pepe　Rey；　accepting　with　pleasure　these　formulas　of　concord；　nevertheless　felt　indescribably　relieved　when　the　priest　had　left　the　dining…room　and　the　house。



CHAPTER　VIII

IN　ALL　HASTE

A　little　later　the　scene　had　changed。　Don　Cayetano；　finding　rest　from　his　sublime　labors　in　a　gentle　slumber　that　had　overcome　him　after　dinner；　reclined　comfortably　in　an　arm…chair　in　the　dining…room。　Rosarito；　seated　at　one　of　the　windows　that　opened　into　the　garden；　glanced　at　her　cousin；　saying　to　him　with　the　mute　eloquence　of　her　eyes：

〃Cousin；　sit　down　here　beside　me　and　tell　me　every　thing　you　have　to　say　to　me。〃

Her　cousin；　mathematician　though　he　was；　understood。

〃My　dear　cousin；〃　said　Pepe；　〃how　you　must　have　been　bored　this　afternoon　by　our　disputes！　Heaven　knows　that　for　my　own　pleasure　I　would　not　have　played　the　pedant　as　I　did；　the　canon　was　to　blame　for　it。　Do　you　know　that　that　priest　appears　to　me　to　be　a　singular　character？〃

〃He　is　an　excellent　person！〃　responded　Rosarito；　showing　the　delight　she　felt　at　being　able　to　give　her　cousin　all　the　data　and　the　information　that　he　might　require。

〃Oh；　yes！　An　excellent　person。　That　is　very　evident！〃

〃When　you　know　him　a　little　better；　you　will　see　that。〃

〃That　he　is　beyond　all　price！　But　it　is　enough　for　him　to　be　your　friend　and　your　mamma's　to　be　my　friend　also；〃　declared　the　young　man。　〃And　does　he　come　here　often？〃

〃Every　day。　He　spends　a　great　deal　of　his　time　with　us；〃　responded　Rosarito　ingenuously。　〃How　good　and　kind　he　is！　And　how　fond　he　is　of　me！〃

〃Come！　I　begin　to　like　this　gentleman。〃

〃He　comes　in　the　evening；　besides；　to　play　tresillo；〃　continued　the　young　girl；　〃for　every　night　some　friends　meet　herethe　judge　of　the　lower　court；　the　attorney…general；　the　dean；　the　bishop's　secretary；　the　alcalde；　the　collector　of　taxes；　Don　Inocencio's　nephew〃

〃Ah！　Jacintito；　the　lawyer。〃

〃Yes；　he　is　a　simple…hearted　boy；　as　good　as　gold。　His　uncle　adores　him。　Since　he　returned　from　the　university　with　his　doctor's　tassel　for　he　is　a　doctor　in　two　sciences；　and　he　took　honors　besideswhat　do　you　think　of　that？well；　as　I　was　saying；　since　his　return；　he　has　come　here　very　often　with　his　uncle。　Mamma　too　is　very　fond　of　him。　He　is　a　very　sensible　boy。　He　goes　home　early　with　his　uncle；　he　never　goes　at　night　to　the　Casino；　nor　plays　nor　squanders　money；　and　he　is　employed　in　the　office　of　Don　Lorenzo　Ruiz；　who　is　the　best　lawyer　in　Orbajosa。　They　say　Jacinto　will　be　a　great　lawyer；　too。〃

〃His　uncle　did　not　exaggerate　when　he　praised　him；　then；〃　said　Pepe。　〃I　am　very　sorry　that　I　talked　all　that　nonsense　I　did　about　lawyers。　I　was　very　perverse；　was　I　not；　my　dear　cousin？〃

〃Not　at　all；　for　my　part；　I　think　you　were　quite　right。〃

〃But；　really；　was　I　not　a　little〃

〃Not　in　the　least；　not　in　the　least！〃

〃What　a　weight　you　have　taken　off　my　mind！　The　truth　is　that　I　found　myself　constantly；　and　without　knowing　why；　in　distressing　opposition　to　that　venerable　priest。　I　am　very　sorry　for　it。〃

〃What　I　think；〃　said　Rosarito；　looking　at　him　with　eyes　full　of　affection；　〃is　that　you　will　not　find　yourself　at　home　among　us。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃I　don't　know　whether　I　can　make　myself　quite　clear；　cousin。　I　mean　that　it　will　not　be　easy　for　you　to　accustom　yourself　to　the　society　and　the　ideas　of　the　people　of　Orbajosa。　I　imagine　soit　is　a　supposition。〃

〃Oh；　no！　I　think　you　are　mistaken。〃

〃You　come　from　a　different　place；　from　another　world；　where　the　people　are　very　clever；　and　very　learned；　and　have　refined　manners；　and　a　witty　way　of　talking；　and　an　airperhaps　I　am　not　making　myself　clear。　I　mean　that　you　are　accustomed　to　live　among　people　of　refinement；　you　know　a　great　deal。　Here　there　is　not　what　you　need；　here　the　people　are　not　learned　or　very　polished。　Every　thing　is　plain；　Pepe。　I　imagine　you　will　be　bored；　terribly　bored；　and　that　in　the　end　you　will　have　to　go　away。〃

The　expression　of　sadness　which　was　natural　in　Rosarito's　countenance　here　became　so　profound　that　Pepe　Rey　was　deeply　moved。

〃You　are　mistaken；　my　dear　cousin。　I　did　not　come　here　with　the　ideas　you　fancy；　nor　is　there　between　my　character　and　my　opinions　and　the　character　and　opinions　of　the　people　here　the　want　of　harmony　you　imagine。　But　let　us　suppose　for　a　moment　that　there　were。〃

〃Let　us　suppose　it。〃

〃In　that　case　I　have　the　firm　conviction　that　between　you　and　me；　between　us　two；　dear　Rosarito；　perfect　harmony　would　still　exist。　On　this　point　I　cannot　be　mistaken。　My　heart　tells　me　that　I　am　not　mistaken。〃

Rosarito　blushed　deeply；　but　making　an　effort　to　conceal　her　embarrassment　under　smiles　and　fugitive　glances；　she　said：

〃Come；　now；　no　pretences。　But　if　you　mean　that　I　shall　always　approve　of　what　you　say；　you　are　right。〃

〃Rosario；〃　exclaimed　the　young　man；　〃the　moment　I　saw　you　my　soul　was　filled　with　gladness；　I　felt　at　the　same　time　a　regret　that　I　had　not　come　before　to　Orbajosa。〃

〃Now；　that　I　am　not　going　to　believe；〃　she　said；　affecting　gayety　to　conceal　her　emotion。　〃So　soon？　Don't　begin　to　make　protestations　already。　See；　Pepe；　I　am　only　a　country　girl；　I　can　talk　only　about　common　things；　I　don't　know　French；　I　don't　dress　with　elegance；　all　I　know　is　how　to　play　the　piano；　I〃

〃Oh；　Rosario！〃　cried　the　young　man；　with　ardor；　〃I　believed　you　to　be　perfect　before；　now　I　am　sure　you　are　so。〃

Her　mother　at　this　moment　entered　the　room。　Rosarito；　who　did　not　know　what　to　say　in　answer　to　her　cousin's　last　words；　was　conscious；　however；　of　the　necessity　of　saying　something；　and；　looking　at　her　mother；　she　cried：

〃Ah！　I　forgot　to　give　the　parrot　his　dinner。〃

〃Don't　mind　that　now。　But　why　do　you　stay　in　here？　Take　your　cousin　for　a　walk　in　the　garden。〃

Dona　Perfecta　smiled　with　maternal　kindness　at　her　nephew；　as　she　pointed　toward　the　leafy　avenue　which　was　visible　through　the　glass　door。

〃Let　us　go　there；〃　said　Pepe；　rising。

Rosarito　darted；　like　a　bird　released　from　its　cage；　toward　the　glass　door。

〃Pepe；　who　knows　so　much　and　who　must　understand　all　about　trees；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　〃will　teach　you　how　to　graft。　Let　us　see　what　he　thinks　of　those　young　pear…trees　that　they　are　going　to　transplant。〃

〃Come；　come！〃　called　Rosarito　to　her　cousin　impatiently　from　the　garden。

Both　disappeared　among　the　foliage。　Dona　Perfecta　watched　them　until　they　were　out　of　sight　and　then　busied　herself　with　the　parrot。　As　she　changed　its　food　she　said　to　herself　with　a　contemplative　air：

〃How　different　he　is！　He　has　not　even　given　a　caress　to　the　poor　bird。〃

Then；　thinking　it　possible　that　she　had　been　overheard　by　her　brother…　in…law；　she　said　aloud：

〃Cayetano；　what　do　you　think　of　my　nephew？　Cayetano！〃

A　low　grunt　gave　evidence　that　the　antiquary　was　returning　to　the　consciousness　of　this　miserable　world。

〃Cayetano！〃

〃Just　so；　just　so！〃　murmured　the　scientist　in　a　sleepy　voice。　〃That　young　gentleman　will　maintain；　as　every　one　does；　that　the　statues　of　Mundogrande　belong　to　the　first　Phoenician　immigration。　But　I　will　convince　him？〃

〃But；　Cayetano！〃

〃But；　Perfecta！　There！　Now　you　will　insist　upon　it　again　that　I　have　been　asleep。〃

〃No；　indeed；　how　could　I　insist　upon　any　thing　so　absurd！　But　you　haven't　told　me　what　you　think　about　that　young　man。〃

Don　Cayetano　placed　the　palm　of　his　hand　before　his　mouth　to　conceal　a　yawn；　then　he　and　Dona　Perfecta　entered　upon　a　long　conversation。　Those　who　have　transmitted　to　us　the　necessary　data　for　a　compilation　of　this　history　omit　this　dialogue；　no　doubt　because　it　was　entirely　confidential。　As　for　what　the　engineer　and　Rosarito　said　in　the　garden　that　afternoon；　it　is　evident　that　it　was　not　worthy　of　mention。

On　the　afternoon　of　the　following　day；　however；　events　took　place　which；　being　of　the　gravest　importance；　ought　not　to　be　passed　over　in　silence。　Late　in　the　afternoon　the　two　cousins　found　themselves　alone；　after　rambling　through　different　parts　of　the　garden　in　friendly　companionship　and　having　eyes　and　ears　only　for　each　other。

〃Pepe；〃　Rosario　was　saying；　〃all　that　you　have　been　telling　me　is　pure　fancy；　one　of　those　stories　that　you　clever　men　know　so　well　how　to　put　together。　You　think　that　because　I　am　a　country　girl　I　believe　every　thing　I　am　told。〃

〃If　you　understood　me　as　well　as　I　think　I　understand　you；　you　would　know　that　I　never　say　any　thing　I　do　not　mean。　But　let　us　have　done　with　foolish　subtleties　and　lovers'　sophistries；　that　lead　only　to　misunderstandings。　I　will　speak　to　you　only　in　the　language　of　truth。　Are　you　by　chance　a　young　lady　whose　acquaintance　I　have　made　on　the　promenade　or　at　a　party；　and　with　whom　I　propose　to　spend　a　pleasant　hour　or　two？　No；　you　are　my　cousin。　You　are　something　more。　Rosario；　let　us　at　once　put　things　on　their　proper　footing。　Let　us　drop　circumlocutions。　I　have　come　here　to　marry　you。〃

Rosario　felt　her　face　burning；　and　her　heart　was　beating　violently。

〃See；　my　dear　cousin；〃　continued　the　young　man。　〃I　swear　to　you　th