"Let's see, what is it Carlicos wishes me to do for you?"
"I think he says something about it in the letter," stammered Linares again.
"In the letter? Yes, that's so! He wishes me to find you employment and a wife. Ah, the employment is easy enough, but as for the wife!--hem!--a wife----"
"Father, that is not so urgent," said Linares, with confusion.
But Father Dámaso was walking back and forth murmuring: "A wife! A wife!" His face was no longer sad or joyful, but serious and preoccupied. From a distance Father Salvi watched the scene.
"I did not think the thing could cause me so much pain," Father Dámaso murmured plaintively; "but of two evils choose the least!" Then approaching Linares:
"Come with me, my boy," he said, "we will talk with Don Santiago." Linares paled and followed the priest.
Long days followed by weary nights were passed by the pillow of the sick girl. After a confession to Father Salvi, Maria Clara had had a relapse, and in her delirium she pronounced no name but that of her mother, whom she had never known. Her friends, her father, her aunt, watched her, and heaped with gifts and with silver for masses the altars of miraculous images. At last, slowly and regularly, the fever began to abate.
The Doctor de Espadaña was stupefied at the virtues of the syrup of marshmallow and the decoction of lichen, prescriptions he had never varied. Doña Victorina was so satisfied with her husband that one day when he stepped on her train, in a rare state of clemency she did not apply to him the usual penal code by pulling out his teeth.
One afternoon, Sinang and Victorina were with Maria; the curate, Captain Tiago, and the Espadañas were talking in the dining-room.
"I'm distressed to hear it," the doctor was saying; "and Father Dámaso must be greatly disturbed."
"Where did you say he is to be sent?" asked Linares.
"Into the province of Tabayas," replied the curate carelessly.
"Maria Clara will be very sorry too," said Captain Tiago; "she loves him like a father."
Father Salvi looked at him from the corner of his eye.
"Father," continued Captain Tiago, "I believe her sickness came from nothing but that trouble the day of the fête."
"I am of the same opinion, so you have done well in not permitting Señor Ibarra to talk with her; that would only have aggravated her condition."