“Oh, yes—­a profound affection!” murmured Pepe.

“Don’t be foolish,” continued his aunt, putting her hand on his shoulder and looking at him closely.  “Don’t imagine absurdities; convince yourself that your enemy, if you have one, is in Madrid, in that centre of corruption, of envy and rivalry, not in this peaceful and tranquil corner, where all is good-will and concord.  Some one, no doubt, who is envious of your merit——­There is one thing I wish to say now—­and that is, that if you desire to go there to learn the cause of this affront and ask an explanation of it from the Government, you must not neglect doing so on our account.”

Pepe Rey fixed his eyes on his aunt’s countenance, as if he wished to penetrate with his glance the inmost depths of her soul.

“I say that if you wish to go, do so,” repeated Dona Perfecta, with admirable serenity, while her countenance expressed the most complete and unaffected sincerity.

“No, senora:  I do not wish to go.”

“So much the better; I think you are right.  You are more tranquil here, notwithstanding the suspicions with which you are tormenting yourself.  Poor Pepillo!  We poor rustics of Orbajosa live happy in our ignorance.  I am very sorry that you are not contented here.  But is it my fault if you vex and worry yourself without a cause?  Do I not treat you like a son?  Have I not received you as the hope of my house?  Can I do more for you?  If in spite of all this you do not like us, if you show so much indifference toward us, if you ridicule our piety, if you insult our friends, is it by chance because we do not treat you well?”

Dona Perfecta’s eyes grew moist.

“My dear aunt,” said Pepe, feeling his anger vanish, “I too have committed some faults since I have been a guest in this house.”

“Don’t be foolish.  Don’t talk about committing faults.  Among the persons of the same family every thing is forgiven.”

“But Rosarito—­where is she?” asked the young man, rising.  “Am I not to see her to-day, either?”

“She is better.  Do you know that she did not wish to come down stairs?”

“I will go up to her then.”

“No, it would be of no use.  That girl has some obstinate notions—­to-day she is determined not to leave her room.  She has locked herself in.”

“What a strange idea!”

“She will get over it.  Undoubtedly she will get over it.  We will see to-night if we cannot put these melancholy thoughts out of her head.  We will get up a party to amuse her.  Why don’t you go to Don Inocencio’s and ask him to come here to-night and bring Jacintillo with him?”

“Jacintillo!”

“Yes, when Rosarito has these fits of melancholy, the only one who can divert her is that young man.”

“But I will go upstairs——­”

“No, you must not.”

“What etiquette there is in this house!”

“You are ridiculing us.  Do as I ask you.”