Miguel left the apothecary shop, much calmer. When he reached home, Maximina was a little delirious.
"She imagines," said the colonel's widow, "that there is a door open behind the head of the bed, and much cold comes in."
"How do you feel?" asked Miguel, laying his hand on her forehead.
"Well; but a great deal of cold air comes in from that open door."
"You are right; I will go and shut it."
He pretended to do so, and for a time she was pacified. The young man afterward wanted to kiss her; but she would not allow him, saying in great agitation, though in a low voice:—
"How can you be so shameless? Don't you see that this señora is here?"
Not even though she was delirious did the sentiment of bashfulness desert this young creature.
During the afternoon she was very restless, sometimes out of her head.
After her whim about the door she imagined that a number of men had come to get her. When Miguel approached the bed, she would say, in terror:—