Miguel took her by the hands and looked at her for several moments, his eyes beaming with love. The maids crowded around the door and looked in to see their mistress.
"Isn't it true that my wife is very pretty?" he asked of them.
"Most beautiful, señorito!"
"She is just a very virgin!" exclaimed Juana.
"Not quite!" replied Miguel, mischievously.
"Stop it, tonto, stop it!" she exclaimed, in embarrassment, tearing herself from his hands and starting to run.
They sat down to table as usual, but ate very little: Maximina especially had no appetite for anything; they kept constantly interrupting each other to suggest some detail that was lacking, and more than once Maximina jumped up to attend to it herself.
Then they went to the parlor and waited patiently for their guests. Maximina was trembling with excitement. Miguel showed a nervous joy, for he was not certain that the 'fiesta' would prove to be a success, and he was afraid of anything ridiculous. He gave his wife his arm, and they began to promenade up and down the parlor, glancing at the mirrors as they passed them. Maximina hardly recognized herself: she was surprised to appear such a respectable and elegant señora.
"Do you see!" said Miguel; "everything depends on appearances in this world: these people who are coming are neither more nor less respectable than we are; consequently you have no reason to be afraid."
In spite of these encouragements, Maximina kept growing more timid; each instant she imagined that she heard steps on the stairs.