“Do not stop, grandma,” said Momo, who walked behind; “however large may be the convent, it must be filled with people. Eh! what? the cabin was not good enough for the Princess Gaviota?”
“Momo,” replied the grandma, “mind your own affairs.”
“But what do you see in her? And what touches you in this wild Gaviota, to take her thus under your care?”
“Momo, a proverb says, ‘Who is thy sister? thy nearest neighbor;’ another adds, ‘Wipe the nose of thy neighbor’s child, and take her to thee.’ And here is the moral: ‘Treat thy neighbor as thyself.’ ”
“There is yet another proverb,” added Momo, “which says, ‘He is mad who occupies himself about others.’ But it is of no use. You were obstinate about raising the palm to San Juan de Dios.”
“You will not be the angel to aid me,” said Maria with sadness.
Dolores received the invalid with open arms, as approving the resolution of her mother-in-law.
Pedro Santalo, who had accompanied his daughter, called the charitable nurse before he returned, and, putting the pieces of gold in her hand, said—
“This is to defray the expenses, and that she may want for nothing. As to your care, God will recompense you.”
The good old woman hesitated an instant, took the gold, and said—