"Ah, excuse me, Cecilia. Come in," he returned, suddenly mollified. His sister-in-law opened the door, came in, and carefully shut it behind her.
"I came to know how you are, and to tell you that if you want the lemonade it is ready made."
"I am better, thank you. If I keep on like this I shall be able to get up to-morrow or next day."
"Has the blister been taken off?"
"Ventura began doing it just now, but she did not finish," he replied, as a frown again darkened his brow.
"Yes, I just met her in the passage, and she told me that you were cross because you thought the task was repugnant to her," said Cecilia, smiling kindly.
"It is not that, it is not that," returned the young man in an impatient tone and somewhat shamefacedly.
"You must forgive her, for she is not accustomed to these things. She is but a child. Besides, in her state of health she is easily upset."
"It is not that!" repeated the young man with increased impatience, and slightly raising his head from the pillows. "I should be very stupid and very selfish if I were to put myself out for something which, after all, she can not help. That is a matter of temperament, and I am accustomed to bear it in mind, especially as it is a question of my wife, and she is not well. But it is more than that, and this is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. I have now been in bed ten days and she has not entered the room more than two or three times a day, and those occasions were generally when I sent for her. Do you think that is how a husband ought to be treated by a wife? If it had not been for you and for mama—especially you—I should have been left to servants, like in a hospital."
"Oh, no, Gonzalo."