Maria (GB English)

–Perhaps it is I who do not deserve....

–I have been unjust to you, and if you would allow it, I would ask you on my knees to forgive me.

His long-veiled eyes, shone with all their beauty, and he exclaimed:

–Oh, no, my God! I've forgotten everything… do you hear well? everything! But on one condition," he added after a short pause.

–Whatever you want.

–The day I do or say something that displeases you, you will tell me; and I will never do or say it again. Isn't that easy?

–And should I not demand the same from you?

–No, for I ca

–Are you sure, then, that you will live convinced that I love you with all my soul? -I said, in a low, moved voice.

–Yes, yes," he answered very quietly; and almost touching my lips with one of his hands to signify to me to be quiet, he took a few steps towards the drawing-room.

–What are you going to do? -I said.

–Can't you hear that John is calling me and crying because he can't find me?

Undecided for a moment, in her smile there was such sweetness and such loving languor in her gaze, that she had already disappeared and I was still gazing at her in rapture.

Chapter XXI

The next day at dawn I took the mountain road, accompanied by Juan Angel, who was carrying some of my mother's presents for Luisa and the girls. Mayo followed us: his fidelity was superior to all chastisement, in spite of some bad experiences he had had in this kind of expeditions, unworthy of his years.

After the river bridge, we met José and his nephew Braulio, who had already come to look for me. Braulio told me about his hunting project, which had been reduced to striking an accurate blow at a tiger famous in the vicinity, which had killed some lambs. He had tracked the animal and discovered one of its dens at the source of the river, more than half a league above the possession.

Juan Angel stopped sweating when he heard these details, and placing the basket he was carrying on the leaf litter, he looked at us with such eyes as if he were listening to us discuss a murder project.

Joseph went on to talk about his plan of attack in this way:

–I answer with my ears that he is not leaving us. We'll see if the Vallonian Lucas is as much of a check as he says he is. From Tiburcio I do answer, does he bring the big ammunition?

–Yes," I replied, "and the long gun.

To-day is Braulio's day. He is very anxious to see you make a play, for I have told him that you and I call shots wrong when we aim at a bear's forehead and the bullet goes through one eye.

He laughed loudly, patting his nephew on the shoulder.

–Well, let's go," he continued, "but let the little black man take these vegetables to the lady, because I'm going back," and he threw Juan Ángel's basket on his back, saying, "are they sweet things that the girl María puts out for her cousin?

–Here is something my mother sent to Luisa.

–But what has the child got into her? I saw her yesterday evening, as fresh and pretty as ever. She looks like a rosebud of Castile.

–It's good now.

–And what are you doing there that you don't get out of here, you nigger," said José to Juan Ángel. Carry the guambía and go, so that you'll be back soon, because later on it won't be good for you to be alone around here. There's no need to say anything down there.

–Be careful not to come back! -I shouted at him when he was on the other side of the river.

Juan Ángel disappeared into the reeds like a frightened guatín.

Braulio was a young boy of my age. Two months ago he had come from the province to accompany his uncle, and he had been madly in love, for a long time, with his cousin Tránsito.

The physiognomy of the nephew had all the nobility that made the old man's interesting; but the most remarkable thing about it was a pretty mouth, without yet a goatee, whose feminine smile contrasted with the manly energy of the other features. Meek of character, handsome, and indefatigable in his work, he was a treasure to José, and the most suitable husband for Tránsito.

Madame Louise and the girls came out to greet me at the door of the hut, laughing and affectionate. Our frequent dealings over the past few months had made the girls less shy with me. Joseph himself on our hunts, that is, on the battlefield, exercised a paternal authority over me, all of which disappeared when they came to the house, as if our loyal and simple friendship were a secret.

–At last, at last! -said Madame Louise, taking me by the arm to lead me into the sitting-room, "seven days!

The girls looked at me smiling mischievously.

–But Jesus, how pale he is," exclaimed Louisa, looking at me more closely. That's no good; if you came here often, you'd be the size of a fat man.

–And what do I look like to you? -I said to the girls.

–I say," said Transito. -said Transito: "Well, what are we going to think of him, if he's over there studying and…

–We have had so many good things for you," interrupted Lucia: "we left the first badea of the new bush damaged, waiting for you: on Thursday, thinking you were coming, we had such a good custard for you....

–And what a peje, eh Luisa? -added José; "if that has been the trial; we have not known what to do with him. But he has had reason not to come," continued he, in a grave tone; "there has been reason; and as you will soon invite him to spend a whole day with us? won't you, Braulio?

–Yes, yes, let's make peace and talk about it. When is the big day, Mrs. Luisa? When is it, Tránsito?

She was as mad as a hatter, and wouldn't have looked up to see her boyfriend for all the gold in the world.

–That takes time," said Luisa; "don't you see that the little house needs whitewashing and the doors put on? It will be the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for Tránsito is her devotee.

–And when is that?

–And you don't know? Well, on the twelfth of December. Haven't these guys told you that they want to make you their godfather?

–No, and the delay in giving me such good news I do not forgive Transit.

–I told Braulio to tell you, because my father thought it was better that way.

–I am as grateful to you for this choice as you ca

Braulio looked most tenderly at his beautiful bride, and, embarrassed, she hurried off to arrange lunch, taking Lucia with her.

My meals at José's house were no longer like the one I described on another occasion: I was part of the family; and without any table apparatus, except the one piece of cutlery that was always given to me, I received my ration of frisoles, mazamorra, milk and chamois from the hands of Mrs. Luisa, sitting no more and no less than José and Braulio, on a bench made of guadua root. It was not without difficulty that I got them used to treating me like this.

Years later, as I travelled through the mountains of Joseph's country, I saw, at sunset, cheerful peasants arrive at the hut where I was given hospitality: after praising God before the venerable head of the family, they waited around the hearth for the supper that the old and affectionate mother was distributing: a plate was enough for each pair of spouses; and the little ones were making pinafores leaning on their parents' knees. And I turned my eyes away from these patriarchal scenes, which reminded me of the last happy days of my youth....

Lunch was succulent as usual, and seasoned with conversation that revealed Braulio and José's impatience to start the hunt.

It was about ten o'clock when, with everyone ready, Lucas loaded with the cold meat that Luisa had prepared for us, and after José's entrances and exits to put cabuya cubes and other things that he had forgotten, we set off.