Señor Joaquin seized the opportunity and laid before her Miranda’s proposal. Lucía listened attentively, with surprise depicted in her lustrous eyes.
“See there!” she said, at last. “Rosarito and Carmela were right, then, when they declared that Señor Miranda came here on my account. But who would have imagined it?”
“Come, child, what answer shall I give the gentleman?” asked the Leonese, with anxiety.
“Papa, how should I know? I never suspected that he wanted to marry me.”
“But, on your part, do you like Señor Miranda?”
“Like him? That I do. Though he is not so very young, he is still handsome,” answered Lucía, with the utmost naturalness.
“And his disposition, his manners?”
“He is very polite, very amiable.”
“Is the idea disagreeable to you that he should live here always—with us?”
“Not at all. On the contrary, he amuses me greatly when he comes.”