It was the first joke that he had ventured to make with his bride-elect. She smilingly returned:
"I never eat more than that."
Doña Paula whispered into Venturita's ear:
"Don't you think they are very stiff with each other?"
Venturita repeated the remark in an undertone to Pablo, and he passed it on to his father. All four began laughing and casting glances at the engaged couple, who looked confused, asking with their eyes the reason of the sudden merriment.
"Mama, do you want me to tell them what we are laughing at?"
"Tell them."
"Then, señores, we were thinking that you might be less stiff with each other."
The bride and bridegroom-elect hung their heads and smiled.
The good spirits of the supper party now broke forth in laughter and jokes. Pablito asked his future brother-in-law questions about horse racing, skating rinks, and other more or less enthralling topics of the kind.