X. LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.

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CHAPTER X

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.

The people of the town have made their preparation for the festival in

honor of the patron saint, San Diego, and are gossiping about it, and

about the arrival of Maria Clara, accompanied by her aunt Isabel. They

rejoiced over it, because they liked her, and admired her beauty very

much. They also rejoiced in the change it had made in the priest,

Father Salvi. "He is often absent-minded during the holy services,"

they said. "He scarcely speaks with us, and he plainly grows more

thin and taciturn." His cook saw this constantly and complained of the

little honor that he did his dishes. But what most excited the wonder

of the people were the two lights which one could see shining in the

convent during the night, while Father Salvi was visiting at the house

of Maria Clara! The old dames crossed themselves and kept on gossiping.

Juan Crisostomo Ibarra had telegraphed from the capital of the province

his compliments to Aunt Isabel and her niece, but he had not explained

his absence. Many thought that he had been arrested for assaulting

Father Salvi on the afternoon of "All Saint's Day." But the comments

increased still more when, on the afternoon of the third day, they

saw Ibarra get out of a carriage in front of the little house of his

betrothed, and courteously salute the priest, who was also making

his way thither.

If we go to Maria Clara's house, we will find it like a little nest

among orange and ilang-ilang trees, surrounded by flowers and vines

which creep up on bamboo sticks and wires, diffusing their delicious

perfume. The rich fragrance of the ilang-ilang reaches even to

the window which looks out on the lake. Here sit the two young

lovers. Ibarra was saying to Maria Clara:

"To-morrow, before the first ray of morning, your desire shall be

fulfilled. To-night, I shall arrange all so that nothing will be

lacking."

"Then I will write to my friends, so that they may come along. Arrange

it so that the priest cannot come."

"And why?"

"Because he seems to be watching me. His deep and sombre eyes pain

me. When he fixes them upon me, they frighten me. He speaks to me of

extraordinary things, so incomprehensible, so strange. He asked me

once if I had not dreamed about my mother's letters. I believe he

is half crazy. My friend Sinang, and Andeng, my foster sister, say

that he is a little out of his head, for he neither eats nor bathes,

and he lives entirely in the darkness. Don't have him come!"

"We cannot but invite him," replied Ibarra. "The customs of the

country require it. He is the priest of your house and, besides, he has

conducted himself nobly toward me. When the Alcalde consulted him on

the business of which I have spoken to you, he had nothing but praises

for me and did not pretend to offer the slightest obstacle. But I see

that you are serious. I shall take care that he does not accompany

us in the boat."

Light steps were heard. They were those of the priest, who was

approaching with a forced smile on his lips. They began to talk of

different subjects, about the weather, the town and the festival. Maria

Clara devised an excuse and went out.

"And while we are speaking about festivals," said Ibarra, "allow me to

invite you to the one which we are going to celebrate to-morrow. It is

going to be a country picnic, which we and our friends are planning."

"And where will it be held?"

"The girls want to hold it near the brook in the woods, near the balitî

tree. So we will have to get up early to reach the place before the

sun gets hot."

The priest reflected, and a moment later replied: "The invitation

is very tempting, and I accept it in order to prove that I hold no

grudge against you for what has happened in the past. But I will have

to be a little late, as I must fulfill my religious duties first. How

happy to be like you, entirely free and independent!"

A few minutes later, Ibarra took his leave in order to arrange for

the picnic on the following day. It was already quite dark when he

left the house.

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