"If you had let me break open the door of that rancho we should have found a skunk inside," said Evaña.
"It is quite possible," replied Marcelino.
"A skunk!" said Magdalen. "And in a rancho! If you had found one what would you have done with it?"
"Shot him," replied Evaña.
Don Alfonso Miranda had walked up the road, but he returned alone, and Magdalen made tea for them in her porcelain cups. All the evening Marcelino and Evaña waited, at every sound they looked towards the door, and there was a constraint over them all, but Don Ciriaco did not come back, at which Magdalen expressed her surprise, but her father said nothing.
When their guests had at last taken their departure, Don Alfonso called to Magdalen to come and sit by him. She seated herself in her favourite low chair, and recommenced her sewing without making any remark. Presently her father spoke to her.
"This Don Marcelino does not often now trouble us with his presence, Chica," he said; then he paused as though he expected a reply, but none came, and he continued:
"He seems almost as keen a sportsman as our friend Don Carlos, and when he is not shooting birds I suppose he has all his time pretty well taken up paying court to the fair Elisa. When a man chooses the prettiest girl in the city for his lady-love he does well to keep a strict watch on all rivals."
"Are they to be married soon?" asked Magdalen, with the greatest composure.
"I know nothing about it, I never troubled my head with such matters," replied Don Alfonso. "Who told you that they were to be married?"