After hesitating a few moments, he started to go along the Plaza del Angel without any reason for it; but there was just as little for choosing any other direction.
He quickened his steps as soon as he could, without seeing any one beside the watchman on the corner.
He entered the Calle de Carretas, and saw only a group of young men going along discussing literature.
When he reached the Puerta del Sol,[37] he made out in the distance, near San Jeronimo Avenue, a woman"s form; he felt a strong emotion, and without thinking that he might be taken for an evil-doer, he started to run after her. She was a _desgraciada_, who, as she turned around to see who was following her in that way, met the young man"s astonished and startled eyes.
"See here, senorito!" she cried in a coa.r.s.e voice.
But Miguel had already dashed by her down the Calle del Principe. And suddenly he found himself again in the Plaza de Santa Ana. Then he stood still, and clutching his temples with his hands, exclaimed aloud, in a voice of anguish:--
"My G.o.d, what has happened to me!"
He looked in every direction, in discouragement, and seeing no one, he made his way into the gardens in the centre, so as to reach his house as soon as possible, and ask the janitor"s a.s.sistance. But just as he was near home, he saw a woman"s dress gleaming on one of the benches there. It did not take him many steps to make certain that it was his wife.
"Maximina! Maximina!"
The child, who was sobbing with her head leaning on the back of the seat, instantly lifted it. Miguel took her by the hand, gently lifted her to her feet, with the same gentleness made her lean upon his arm, and silently crossed the distance that separated them from his dwelling.
As they entered the doorway, he said, naturally, so as to be heard by all: "Why didn"t you tell me, wife? You gave me a great fright."
The janitor and his wife bowed.
"Can we shut up now, senorito?"
"Whenever you please."
They mounted the stairs in the same silence as before. They entered their apartment, and after giving suitable orders for all the lights to be put out, Miguel took his wife to her room; he locked the door, and going to the little wife, who was looking at him full of fear and even anguish, he made her sit down in a chair; then kneeling at her feet, and kissing her hands tenderly, he said:--
"Forgive me!"
"Oh, no, Miguel!" she cried, in the height of confusion and mortification, and making desperate efforts to kneel down, and make her husband rise. "Don"t put me to shame, for Heaven"s sake! I am the one, indeed I am, who ought to ask your forgiveness for the atrocity which I have just committed, for the pain I have given you.... Let go of me! Let go of me!... Do you forgive me?... I was mad, perfectly mad.... I thought that you did not love me, and my better judgment deserted me. I wanted to die, and nothing else."
"Hush, hush!" he replied, by main force keeping her in her seat.
"To-morrow do whatever you please; to-night it is my right to ask your forgiveness, and to swear before G.o.d that I will never again as long as I live give you cause for jealousy, either with the girl up stairs or any other."
And the report goes that he fulfilled his vow.
XVI.
It happened that one clear, cool February evening, as they were walking along the street, Maximina said to her husband:--
"I feel very tired. Don"t you want to go home?"
"Is it only weariness," he asked, looking at her with interest. "Don"t you feel ill?"
"A little," she said, leaning somewhat heavier on his arm.
"I will call a carriage."
"No, no! I am perfectly able to walk."
In spite of her willingness, however, Maximina found walking each moment more difficult; her husband perceiving it, quickly stopped, and considered for a moment; then taking her hand, said:--
"I am sure that I know what the trouble is; I am going to call a carriage."
The young wife hung her head as though detected in some crime. They stopped the first Simon that pa.s.sed without a fare, and rode home. As soon as they were in doors, Miguel put on the bearing of a general on the eve of battle; he began to give curt and peremptory orders to the maids. In a short time nothing was heard but hurried steps and whisperings; women appeared bringing bed linen, dishes, bottles, and other articles. There was a call at the door; it proved to be the janitor and his wife, and they with the servants held a long and anxious council, everybody speaking in a whisper.
Miguel presided silently and solemnly over the making of the great nuptial couch, while Maximina, seated in one of the easy-chairs in the library, watched them, her face pale and anxious.
"How much trouble you take for my sake, Miguel!"
"For your sake?" exclaimed he, half surprised and half disturbed. "I certainly should be a fine fellow not to put myself to some trouble for my wife on such an occasion."
The poor child repaid him with a loving smile.
The bed was very quickly made. Juana looked at it enthusiastically.
"Senorito, it is like an altar! Would the queen"s be finer?"
"There is no queen any longer, woman. Do me the favor not to stand there like a post. Take the alcohol stove and put it on the dressing-table....
Quick! quick! And the other girls--what are they doing in the kitchen?"
"Both of them have gone on errands."
"What! haven"t they got back yet?"
"But, senorito, they have only just gone out!"
"Come now, stop talking, and go after the stove."
Juana left the room, utterly dumfounded; the senorito had suddenly changed his character; he acted like a madman! He walked up and down through the house, with long strides; he gave more orders now in a moment than in a month before, and was vexed at everything that was said to him. From time to time he would go to his wife, and ask her anxiously:--
"How are you feeling now?"
More than a hundred times he had been to the door and listened; but no one came. In desperation he again began his agitated walk. At last he thought that he heard steps on the stairs.... Could it be!... Nothing; it was only the janitor carrying up a telegram to the third story. The mischief take it! Another spell of waiting! "How wretched! Where can that miserable Placida have gone? Surely she must be gallivanting with that young sergeant of engineers. How little humanity these servants have! As soon as the crisis is over, I will give her a walking ticket! I would much better have sent Juana, who, at least, hasn"t any lover....
"Do you feel worse, Maximina? A little tea would not do you any harm....
I will go and make it myself.... Courage!"
"You need it more than I, poor fellow!" said the young wife, smiling.
As he crossed the pa.s.sage-way, the door-bell rang.
"At last!"