Miguel, not feeling any indignation at this lack of respect, replied:—
"Most beautiful!"
"How you must have changed for the worse since then!" retorted the countess, laughing.
"Not so very much, señora, not so very much; I am certain that my wife will quite agree with me."
"Not at all," said Maximina, making a face to express her vexation.
"Maximina!"
"Then why did you call him ugly?"
"I see that this young gentleman has wholly driven me out of my place!"
Meanwhile the bundle was passing from hand to hand, not without all the time emitting more and more energetic protests against such an unwelcome journey. But this same helpless desperation was the very thing that gave the most delight to those excellent women; they died with laughter to behold that poor little mouth open even to the throat, and that expressive and desperate waving of little hands filled with threats.
"Come, come! what lungs you have, child!"