"That's what I like to hear; take a lesson, take a lesson, girls," said Pablito.
CHAPTER IX
A CHANGE OF HEART
GONZALO, after talking for some time with his bride-elect, left his seat, took three or four turns up and down the room, and seated himself by the side of Venturita, with whom he was always on good terms, for they liked laughing and joking together after they had once become friendly. The girl was drawing some letters preparatory to embroidering them.
"Don't come teasing here, Gonzalo; you know how badly I draw," she said, while the look that she gave the youth was so flashing and provocative that it made him drop his eyes.
"I am not so sure of that. You don't draw badly," he replied in a low voice that slightly trembled, as he bent his face down to the paper which Venturita had on her lap.
"Pure flattery. You will acknowledge that it might be better."
"Better—better—everything in the world might be better. This is good enough."
"You are getting quite a flatterer. I don't want you to make fun of me, do you hear?"
"I don't make fun of anybody, much less of you," he returned, without raising his eyes from the paper, and with his voice lower every minute, and evidently agitated. Venturita kept her eyes fixed upon him with a mocking expression, in which the triumph of satisfied pride was plainly visible.
"Come, then, you draw them, Mr. Clever," she said, as she passed him the pencil and paper with gracious condescension.