CHAPTER VI
Kate, The Pale Lass—Roberto’s Love Affairs—Military Punctilio—Wicked Women—Anthropological Disquisitions
A month after they were settled in their new apartment, Christmas came, and, as there were holidays in all the schools, the baroness went to fetch her daughter at the Sacred Heart, returning with her in a carriage.
Niña Chucha undertook to inform Manuel about the baroness’s daughter, and give him full details.
“She’s a simpleton, understand? A pale, insipid creature, who looks like a doll.”
Manuel knew her, but he was not sure whether she would recall him. During the years since he had seen her she had grown into a winsome girl. She did not resemble her mother, though, like her, she was blonde; she must rather take after her father. She was pale, with correct features, clear blue eyes, golden eyebrows and lashes, and fair hair that lacked lustre, yet was quite alluring.
When the schoolgirl arrived, Niña Chucha outdid herself in demonstrations of affection; the newcomer recognized Manuel, and this filled him with a deep satisfaction.
The baroness’s daughter was called Catalina, her relations from Antwerp called her Kate, but the baroness generally referred to her as La Nena,—the baby.
With the arrival of Kate the habits of the household underwent a marked change; the baroness abandoned her nocturnal excursions and put a check upon her loose tongue. At table with a sad smile, she gave ear to the school tales that her daughter related, without the slightest interest in what she heard.
There was no harmony between the two characters. Kate was slow of understanding, but deep; her mother, on the other hand, was gifted with the subtlety and cleverness of the moment. The baroness, at times, grew impatient as Kate spoke on, and would say, with mingled kindliness and boredom: