The Joy of Captain Ribot

Do?a Clara were getting ready to leave without their daughter. Sabas and Castell dined there also. We were joyously welcomed, and all, except perhaps Cristina, attacked

laid out, the elegance of the Cristina pavilion (I believe that I insisted too much on this p

ion?" asked Castell, w

. She seemed to be thinking of something else at this moment, but I

hould like very well to live in that way, but on condition

of his eye at Cristina, who kept her face turn

te, make no condition whate

several times upon the

talking about a fortnight perhaps. At the end of that time you would be so bored w

e but pressing necessity that we all feel to seek for the being who can respond to our inmost sentiments, our most intimate aspirations, our secret

hem unimportant perhaps, but none the less existent. If, like you, or before you" (he uttered these words in a peculiar manner), "I ha

stina while he was talking, confirmed me in the suspicion that I had conceived, whereof I have not before h

I called him false friend, traitor, double-faced! But at the same time a voice cried out in my consci

king, wherewith he emphasized them. Cristina talked with her mother, but by her evident agitation and by the cloud of vexation which darkened her face I guessed that she was listenin

bending as if to speak in his ear, but in reality talking loud eno

such good judgment in choosing a companion, what would have become of me, poor fellow! What a darling!-eh? What

huffling his feet. His beloved better half, who had heard perfectly well, gave him a sidewise look which was

rselves at the table. Martí, observing that his piec

the footprints of my littl

iled a

nished for picking at

g else, contrived to get a morsel of the bread that Cristina had picked at, and ate it with inexplicab

one to his place!" she cried, wi

myself in my accustomed plac

him on our walk. He ended by proposing that we should go there afternoons for picnics, since circumstances hindered the moving out altogether. It is needless to say with what delight I

d not do, would it-to throw over all business in the Plaza de

gant creature, piqued. "You know that I am

the citified, and cannot breathe exc

d, as always, to th

Sabas does not go, for picnics a

had to stay shut up?" exclaimed the c

dmirably on late suppers at the

s his own preferences in the matter of amusements and it was folly to try to impose our own upon others. "Everybody has a right to

although he is not to be of the party, that he

ion seemed to be ended; but Cristina, who still wishe

this means the afternoons when

" cried Martí, half

. Sabas shrugged his shoulders with apparent dis

orable company but with that of Matilde and the eldes

at sunset. This time was spent chatting on the upper balcony of the summer-house while the ladies e

in; at other times we directed our footsteps into the country, visited some of the cottages, usually that of a certain Tonet, an old servant of Martí's,

shady place in the park. The ladies put on their aprons; the gentlemen, in shirt-sleeves, made chocolate or coffee, or fried fish that we had just bought on the beach, and passed a happy time. How happy I was when the party gave me the ta

into too small pieces, did it even enter my imagination that a more perfect creature could ever have existed under the sun. In the country the supercilious severity that I had often remarked in her disappeare

ple, one afternoon, standing in the summer-house, she showed us a thimble that she had bought. Everybody examined it, and I also after the others, then I contrived to keep it without

ble in this l

nd crafty with her. She saw ever

she raised her hand to the neck of her dress and pulled it up with a gesture of impatience. It was an admonition and a reprimand. But in spite of her dumb rebuffs and reproofs and although she used seldom to look at me, I felt myself happy beside her. And this was because in these rebuffs and in the sternness of her countenance I found no distaste for myself, nor desire to mortify me. Everything emanated from a noble, if exaggerated, sentiment of dignity, without counting the intense af

morning. There was no one in the dining-room but herself and her mother. She happened to ask for a glass of water. I took it upon myself to anticipat

am not thirsty n

umiliated. I cut short my visit and retired. That afternoo

n countenance, and did not try to glance at her. But I saw plainly that she looke

ing to make amends. I stood my ground rigidly. Then she said in

avor to pour a little water into one

oo before drinking it, and my resentment was

excursions to Caba?al. Sometimes, though ra

volent compassion. It is true that Castell extended this compassion towards all created beings, and I think I should not be wrong in affirming that it went beyond our planet and diffused itself among other and distant stars. As a general rule, he listened to nobody but himself; but at times, if he were in the humor, he would invite us to express our opinions, making us talk w

d, and believed in good faith that neither in Spain nor in foreign lands existed a man to compare wit

, an attitude more submissive and devoted than that of this girl with a profile like an angel, when Castell held forth. Her pure a

was not long in divining that the science of her husband's friend and associate did not interest her. She often grew absent-minded and, whenever she could find

the millionaire, therefore, would begin a pompous eulogy of Martí, praising in affected language his clear sight, his decision and activity, Cristina's face would change; her cheeks would lose their delicate rose-color; her brow would

day unannounced at a rather inopportune moment. His mother-in-law sat sobbing (for a change) in an arm-chair, and he with his back towards the door was opening his safe. On hearing me he turned and quickly shut the door of the safe. He seemed a littl

ill be arranged this afternoon, without fail. Come now, go t

d the suffering lady, without c

thout giving me a strong, convulsive grasp of the hand and drawing her son-in-

r wo

venturing to put the question in words.

abuses the bounty of this poor woman an

refrained from inquiries, and we talked of other things. But a moment l

begging money of

eplied Martí, co

Emilio. I have known a

not worth wrinkling this little bro

silent and thought

Will it not encourage my brother to continue in his idle and dissipated habits?' If he were alone in the world, he might indulge in such luxurious ways without much danger. When he came to want, you could, by reducing him to strict necessities, keep him on his feet. But he has a wife, he has

med Martí. "It looks to me as if the first

ing his tone, went over to her, put his arm abou

han I am. Perhaps I should have refused Sabas if he had come begging of me, because I am already a lit

itude, her face quivering with feeling; fearing that she

tí, smiling once more. "She i

entured, because of the confi

y sharpers. What a fellow! He has lost, an

it, and you h

ne? It is not all his fault. He

n-law who is too

wning and meditative, the other completely overcome by her emotions. Matilde came in presently to breakfast with them. I perceived that she was

absent-mindedly, and when nobody noticed, I took the precious object and hid it in my pocket. Cristina appeared again, and I noticed that she glanced about at all the chairs in search of her handkerchief; then she shot a glance at me, and, I fi

my handke

sorbed in conversation. At last I saw her sit down in h

stened, and that nobody could see me through the key-hole, I snatched the kerchief from my pocket and gave myself up to a sort of madness which even now makes me blush when I remember it. I breathed its perfume with intoxication, kissed it numberless times, pressed it to my heart, sw