"Most Saturdays, since I dine with your Uncle Tomas."
"Aunt Clementina is very pretty and very agreeable."
"She is considered so," replied Castro, a little uneasy.
"She has heaps of admirers. Are not you one of the most ardent of them?"
"Who told you so?"
"No one; I imagined it."
"You imagined rightly. Your aunt is, in my opinion, one of the loveliest and most elegant women of Madrid. Good-bye till this evening, Esperancita." And he held out his hand with a condescending air, which pained the poor child. She showed her annoyance by addressing Ramon, who was standing a little apart.
"And you, Ramon, why cannot you stay? Are you, too, going to dine at Aunt Clementina's?"
"I? Oh, no."
"Then stay with us—do. We will take care not to bore you."