"Very well, Señora, I will."
But when he was gone Clementina still muttered: "An insolent fellow is that Gallician! I don't believe any one but I gets such servants!"
Then, suddenly pacified by a new idea, she said:
"Come, now, I must dress; it is getting late."
She went into her dressing-room, followed by Estefania, who, contrary to what might have been expected, looked grave and gloomy. Clementina hurriedly began to remove her walking-dress and change it for a simple dinner-dress, such as she wore at home to receive a few friends in the evening—always very light in hue, and cut open at the throat, though with long sleeves. At a sign from the mistress the maid brought out a "crushed-strawberry" pink dress from the large wardrobe with mirrors, which lined all one side of the room. Before putting it on she arranged her hair, and exchanged her bronze kid boots for shoes to match the dress. The pale girl meanwhile never opened her lips; her face grew every moment sadder and more anxious. At last, on her knees to put on her mistress's shoes, she raised beseeching eyes to her face and said timidly:
"Señora, may I entreat you—not to send Cayetano away?"
Clementina looked at her in amazement.
"Is that it? After you yourself——"
"The thing is," said Estefania, turning as red as her complexion would allow, "if you send him away the others will take offence."
"And what does that matter?"