By this she doubtless meant Nieves. Pablito proceeded more cautiously henceforth, but not with less audacity. He did not seem to object to her brusk manners; he joked with her, and he patiently bore with her spitfire ways, for Valentina was a type of the artisan in Sarrio whose want of culture seemed merely an additional charm. The trousseau of Ventura being finished, there were no more opportunities of meeting, so Pablito made use of the public balls to lay siege to her.
Not that he had abandoned Nieves. The gay young fellow guessed that the self-love excited by rivalry would do more in his favor than even the personal charms with which he was endowed. This perspicacity was innate in him, and had been clearly shown from the first time he paid attention to any of the fair sex, which is an additional argument for those who believe in the preexistence of the human being; because it could only be by having laid siege to several seamstresses in a previous state of existence that our young friend could have such clear ideas as to the course of action that would prove successful.
At last the conquest was made.
She began by giving up her young man, and she ended by making evening appointments like the present one with the gallant Pablito.
"Is your father asleep?" was the first question that he asked when he appeared on the balcony.
"What is that to you?" returned the severe seamstress.
"Well, if he is not asleep, you see, by jingo! the thing is serious."
"Hold your tongue, coward, or I will make it hot for you; I will make a disturbance for the pleasure of seeing you run."
Here Pablito caught her in his arms and kissed her effusively. The young girl smiled with delight, but she soon frowned, and her whole physiognomy expressed great displeasure.
"Go away, go away!" she said, pushing him off. "I have something to ask you. Where were you this morning?"