What pleased Maximina most in these excursions was to walk with her husband alone through the streets; but still, in spite of all his entreaties, she could not bring herself to take his arm in the daytime.
"It would make me feel embarrassed; everybody is looking at us."
"What they are surprised at is, that I ever fell in love with such an ugly piece of humanity!"
Maximina lifted her big eyes to him with a timid smile, and looked her gratitude.
"I am surprised myself ... when I see so many pretty women all around; I can't imagine how you happened to choose me...."
"Because I am famous for my bad taste."
"That must be it."
Miguel with real feeling secretly gave her hand a hearty squeeze.
When it was evening, the case was very different. Then she consented to lean on his arm, and did not try to hide the immense pleasure that it gave her. But if they came into the glare of a shop window, she would find some excuse to withdraw her arm.
One night when they went out, Miguel, either through thoughtlessness or as a joke, did not offer her his arm. After a while Maximina, as though adopting an energetic resolution after long hesitation, suddenly took his arm. Miguel looked at her and smiled:—