The Joy of Captain Ribot

ular Moor according to his eyes, his complexion, and his teeth, was a wonder at preparing paellas and playing on the f

. He was a meek, sad man, seeming careless of all things. He was never joyful, but liked to see joyousness in others. On Sundays and on many afternoons when his work was done early, he would come out and sit down alone in front of the cottage and play softly for a while on his flute. He did not do it for his own pleasure; it was a lure, nothing more. Little by little he drew to his o

it could be made productive? Every one of the constituent elements of this proposition was separately examined by a rigidly mathematical method. To do so he formulated in the first place certain definitions, clear, distinct, and luminous. What is an estate for recreation? What is a productive estate? What is an estate of combined pleasure and utility? After this he laid down certain axioms as profound as they were indisputable. All that is productive oug

e Being had so highly favored him, Sabas continued sucking and spitting with dizzying rapid

ting married?" he asked me after a long pause, takin

soul were next to be sounded, and trembled, perceiving that thi

f that. Our life is incompat

t position like you, have the right to retire peacefully and enjoy a comfortable life," he r

or I had given nobody an account of the state of my affairs. I admired such tremendous penetratio

his cheeks sunk in a supernatural manner. The energy that he expended upo

reflections influenced in like manne

e suddenly, with that brusque and peremptory accent which ch

w pale, fearing she might have heard these serious words, a

in is a very nice girl, very modest,

azed. "And for what does she

y, coughed, and got

t when you are alone w

do not see anything in myself to be admired by anybody. And as for Isabelita, I

t you ought to leave your steamboat and try at once for this elegant craft. Isabelita is sensible, modest, well-educated, diligent; she is accustomed to the strict economy of a house where they turn a dollar over a hundred times before parting with it; an only child, and heiress of all her father's money. And my Uncle Retamoso owns more than people imagine. Who ever can tell exactly how much mone

extraordinary man. In my life seemed gathered together all the loose ends of exi

to admire the logic of his discourse, his surprising wealth of figures, richness of diction, turns of expression, subtle and logical distinctions, and the perfect links

ake of the refreshment that had been prepared for u

that you are going t

or it. The boat is

acing one hand affectionately on my shoulder he added: "

pathetic face. I kept silence. He did the same. Throwing himself back in his chair, he remaine

settle down. Why be always alone? Do you never think of old age, and how sad it would be to pass the last years of your life i

swered smiling, but sad in the depths

a boy. I know," he added, casting a mischievous glance towards the place where Isabelita was, "

h if you should propose to

now it already, I will tell you in c

, ma

articularly that

e in a mirror, because there was none there; but a glance at my shaggy, brown hands and at my feet,

ovely face was covered with blushes, as if she had pricked my heart. I was not sure, but I figured that the next thing after this was to serve her a bit of sausage. The same blushes dyed her brow for this hash as for the olives. The consecutive repetition of this physiological phenomenon filled my spirit with alarm. My gallant sentiments

; hands little and shapely and charming and-also indescribable. The knowledge of these facts caused her profound surprise, to judge by the look of incredulity that appeared upon her countenance. She told me

flowed constantly in the face of Isabelita. I outdid myself, as the critics say of bad actors in the journals; that is, I was jolly, smart, full of chaff, and

, that's sure, and I began jumping about with her like a rattle-pated student, and I was not long in discovering that in a little while everybody was watching us attentively. My agitation was not calmed by this. However, I went on hopping about at a great rate, wh

d her mother more than one start, Cristina had not frolicked in such fashion. We encouraged her, applauded her, threw her chufas and almonds until she began to show a wish to dance also. Emilio and her mother would not let her, on account of her condition. But nonsense and witticisms kept on issuing from her mouth, splitting everybody's si

"Now you have a chance to strike while the iron is hot. Get in with

to take a little luncheon of chufas. I do not know but I may be wrong, but two or three times I had a notion that I heard her murmur the English word, "Shocking!" This would have been nothing strange, for in difficult places this illustrious matron preferred

ead and heart. The sal-volatile of Do?a Amparo was of no avail; neither was the orange-flower water nor the Melisa water, nor other remedies that, like faithful friends, accompanied this nervous lady everywhere. Cristin

with her and Matilde, I did my utmost to hide it; but seeing that this was impossible, and fearing that they would notice my mood, I made a feint for the purpose of falling back to walk alone. I was displeased with myself. The gallantry of that afternoon seemed to me a treason to my true sentiment, to the sweet and del

that she could not help speaking. She had forgotten her watch and left it in the cottage and wished to go back

th a hard, cold face, and

will believe me when I say that that glo

have something to say." I spoke wi

ead at the horizon, and in a glacial tone that,

u notice that this afternoon I paid a little more attent

othing," she answered

it is only because of the great difference in age be

ied, as if she suspect

have been informed in t

are capable of making sport of everything. Fortunately you are a man of sense, a

steps towards winning her good will, and befor

oking voice. "But what need have you of my approval?

, of whom you appear to think a good deal, who has distinguished me with her esteem, however little merited. Nobody can give me true counsel in

d silent fo

he high-growing corn which made

, almost imperceptible, changes sweep over her face. Soon her brow contracted and her lip

to appreciate the delicate heart of a woman. Isabelita is almost a child; I can tell you little about her character. You will take it upon yourself to form her. But I can assure you tha

e which makes her dearest

ha

being you

ened; she frowned and r

other illusions, or, which would be worse, to follow and nourish them in secret, you would commit

hastened on and joined the

editations to go on playing the boy with Isabelita. Under pretext of a headache I found a place alo

voice of Emilio, who came into my quarters like a hur

!" he cried, laughing, and pulli

asked s

be god-father to a little girl mor

Crist

t he should come into her room. When the woman took charge of her, the poor-Oh, what courage, what suffering, Captain! Not a groan, not a moan. I walked about dead, torn to pieces, praying God that she would scream. I don't understand suffering without a sound. I am appalled by temperaments like

d went through a series of evolutions that showed the delightful agitation of his spirit. I felt

he honor of bei

es, do you see? Enrique professes such upsetting ideas and declares them with such excessive frankness, the ladies cannot forgive him. It is all because he is not a practical man. He might hold all the notions he liked if he would keep them a little more to himself when

tion, he shook his black, curly head in a way that

Cristina say to

d your name, sh

day we went to church, and I performed my duty with emotion, yes, bursting with pride. Later I took the train for Barcel