But Maximina understood to the last detail the economy that referred to herself. This from time to time caused Miguel deep pain. Without his knowing it she had given up her chocolate in the afternoon. When he discovered it he became furious.
"Who would ever have thought of it! The idea of cutting down your food when you are nursing a baby! It is senseless and almost a sin! I forbid you to do such a thing! do you hear me? Rather than let you deny yourself what you needed to eat, I would go and break stones in the street, or beg! You know that I would!"
"Don't scold me, Miguel, for Heaven's sake! It was because I did not care for chocolate these days."
"Then you ought to have taken something else."
"I did not want anything."
"Come, come, Maximina, quit such foolishness.... And don't let it happen again."
Though the little wife tried to keep her feet hidden in his presence, he found another time that her shoes were worn through.
"What does this mean?" he demanded. "Why don't you buy another pair of shoes?"
"I will some time."
"You must buy them this very day. Yours are badly worn."