"What! haven't they got back yet?"
"But, señorito, they have only just gone out!"
"Come now, stop talking, and go after the stove."
Juana left the room, utterly dumfounded; the señorito 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 Plácida 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 passage-way, the door-bell rang.
"At last!"