“Do speak Christian; or, at least, Galician. Are you a good-for-nothing Carlist?”
“Ego sum qui sum; that is to say: Look out for mixtures, discriminations, and jobs. I told your Uncle Felipe so very plainly, and Don Román Aldao, also, who is a great braggart, and who is sighing for the title of Marquis of Tejo, or at least for the grand cross. They say that his son-in-law will bring it to him as a wedding present. Vanitas vanitatis! Ha! ha! Carmen’s brother also wants some pap; he wants a fat post in the administration of the hospital—I believe that poultices fatten one like everything.”
“Hush, you turn my stomach!”
“He’ll not get it, for his brother-in-law dislikes him. He’ll not be able to make porridge with linseed flour, nor to put wooden chickens, just for show, in the stews made for the poor sick people. Uncle Felipe is a good one! He’ll do. He has no delicacy, not a bit! Although he is going to get married, he still runs after Candidiña out in the garden. Don’t you believe it? She is no fool, either! She already knows more than many old women. Ne attendas fallaciæ mulieris.”
“Don’t slander my uncle, you prurient little creature,” I exclaimed, with my curiosity excited, because I fancied that the simpleton sometimes hit the nail on the head. “Do you think he would run after girls in the very sight of his lady-love?”
“Yes, yes, you may be sure of it. If you could see some other old men, who can hardly get around any longer, run after the little monkey! Vinum et mulieris apostatare faciunt sapientes, as has been said. Cándida leads them on; and don’t imagine she does it just to pass the time. She knows when to throw the hook. Carmiña will find a stepmother starting out from behind a cabbage.”
I started up in surprise.
“But, that Candidiña, is she not,—is she not a daughter of—”
The little acolyte gave a shriek.
“Ha, ha, ha! he thought that—” (he made the gesture of joining the tips of his forefingers). “No, man, no! Neither Cándida nor the other girl are figs from Doña Andrea’s fig-tree. They are her nieces—I knew their father, who was a general, I mean a corporal of the coast guard. The old woman took charge of them because their parents died. And, by my faith, remember that Serafín Espiña assures you of it, the witch does not run after love affairs out of concupiscentia carnis. She wants to drag a silk train after her. If we live, we are bound to see miracles.”