"Maximina!"
Instantly the little wife appeared.
"Enrique has come to ask you to be madrina at his wedding. Will you accept his invitation?"
"Oh! and so you are to be married, are you? Then I think that I should be very much pleased to be madrina."
Enrique's face lighted up as though at that instant he had seen a procession of all the angels, archangels, thrones, and dominions of Heaven; but suddenly growing serious, he replied, a little stiffly:—
"No, Maximina, it is impossible for you to be madrina. People of your station will not be present at my wedding."
The young matron looked at him in surprise:—
"Of my station?"
"Yes; only women of the common people will be there: fish-wives, fruit-women, tavern keepers' wives, etc."
"What difference does it make to me who comes? I will be madrina if you wish. Do you take me for some princess?"