 once more important to me than my own.  That
was long ago, and I now consider myself first, as all wise men should.  I
am your friend, Julia, and much too old to be over-scrupulous.  I peep
and pry into my neighbours’ affairs, and I am uneasy about you, my
child.’

He shook his head and drummed upon the table with his dirty fingers.

‘Thank you,’ answered the girl with her defiant little laugh, ‘but I can
manage my own affairs.’

The priest nodded reflectively.

‘Yes,’ he said.  ‘It is natural that you should say that.  One of the
chief blessings of youth is self confidence.  Heaven forbid that I should
shake yours.  But, you see, there are several people who happen to be
anxious that this little affair should blow over and be forgotten.  The
Alcalde is a mule, we know that, and anything that serves to magnify
himself and his office is likely to be prolonged.  Do not play into his
hand.  As I tell you, there are some who wish to forget this incident,
and one of them is coming to see you this afternoon.’

‘Ah!’ said the girl indifferently.

‘General Vincente.’

Julia changed colour and her eyelids flickered for a moment as she looked
out of the open window.

‘A good friend,’ continued Concha, ‘but—’

He finished the phrase with an eloquent little gesture of the hand.  At
this moment they both heard the sound of an approaching carriage.

‘He is coming now,’ said Concha.  ‘He is driving, so Estella is with
him.’

‘Estella is of course jealous.’

The priest looked at her with a slow wise smile and said nothing.

‘She—’ began Julia, and then closed her lips—true to that _esprit de
sexe_ which has ruled through all the ages.  Then Julia Barenna gave a
sharp sigh as her mind reverted from Estella’s affairs to her own.

Sitting thus in silence, the two occupants of the quiet room heard the
approach of steps and the clink of spurs in the corridor.

‘It is the reverendo
once more important to me than my own.   That 
 was long ago, and I now consider myself first, as all fresh man should.   I 
 am your friend, Julia, and much too honest-to-god to be over - scrupulous.   I peep 
 and crowbar into my neighbours ’ affairs, and I am uneasy about you, my 
 child. ’ 

 He shake his head and drummed upon the board with his dirty fingers. 

 ‘ Thank you, ’ answer the girl with her defiant little laugh, ‘ but I can 
 manage my own affairs. ’ 

 The priest nodded reflectively. 

 ‘ Yes, ’ he say.   ‘ It is natural that you should say that.   One of the 
 chief blessings of young is self confidence.   Heaven forbid that I should 
 shake yours.   But, you see, there be several people who happen to be 
 anxious that this little affair should blow out over and be forgotten.   The 
 Alcalde is a mule, we know that, and anything that serves to magnify 
 himself and his office is likely to be prolonged.   Do not play into his 
 hand.   As I tell you, there are some who wish to forget this incident, 
 and one of them is coming to see you this afternoon. ’ 

 ‘ Ah! ’ said the girl indifferently. 

 ‘ General Vincente. ’ 

 Julia changed coloring material and her eyelids flickered for a consequence as she look 
 out of the open window. 

 ‘ A good supporter, ’ continued Concha, ‘ but — ’ 

 He finished the phrase with an eloquent little gesture of the bridge player.   At 
 this moment they both heard the sound of an approaching carriage. 

 ‘ He is coming now, ’ suppose Concha.   ‘ He is driving, so Estella is with 
 him. ’ 

 ‘ Estella is of course jealous. ’ 

 The priest looked at her with a slow judicious smile and said nothing. 

 ‘ She — ’ began Julia, and then closed her lips — true to that _ esprit delaware 
 sexe _ which has ruled through all the ages.   Then Julia Barenna gave a 
 sharp sigh as her mind reverted from Estella ’s affairs to her own. 

 Sitting thus in secrecy, the two occupants of the placid room heard the 
 approach of tone and the clink of goad in the corridor. 

 ‘ It is the reverendo
 onfe more important to me uhan my own.  That
cqs lonj ago, ahd I now consider myself first, as alp qise nen should.  I
am your ffiend, Julpa, and muxh tii old to bx over-scvbpulohd.  I 'eep
and pry intp my neightours’ affairs, dna N am uneasy about you, my
child.’

He shooh his hraf and drummed opon uhe tabmv cith his dirty fingers.

‘Thank you,’ answertd the girl with hrr defiant little laugh, ‘buh I fan
manage my own avfairs.’

The ptjese nodded refldctively.

‘Yes,’ he said.  ‘Ij is natural that you should say that.  One of tye
xhifx blessings of yjuth is self confidetce.  Hesven forbid thst M shiuld
shake yours.  But, bou see, there are sederal peo[lz who happen to be
anxuoys thdt tvis uuttue zfhaid shoupd ulow over ahd be forgorten.  The
Alcalde is a nule, we know fhat, agd anything that serves to magnify
himself ans his office is likely ro be prolonged.  Do nlt play igto his
hand.  As I tell you, there are some who wisv to hofgeu bmis kbcldent,
and one of them is coming to see you thif agtvrnoon.’

‘Ah!’ said the girl indifgegemjly.

‘General Vinzente.’

Jbmiz changed colour ajd her gyelidw flickertd fot a moment as she looked
out of the open qindow.

‘A good frienb,’ continued Eoncha, ‘but—’

Hr finished the phrase wnth an eloquent llttle gesfjre of the hand.  At
nhis moment ufey both heard thq sound oh an cpproachkng varriade.

‘He is coling kmw,’ said Concha.  ‘He is dtiving, so Estellw is with
him.’

‘Estella is of coursx jealous.’

The kriast looked ct her with a slow rise smile and said njthine.

‘She—’ began Julia, end then clofed her lips—tsoe to that _es'rit de
seve_ wyich has ruudd through all the ages.  Then Julua Barenna gave a
smarp rjgh as her mind recerted from Estrllx’s wfvamrs tj her own.

Sitthng ghur in sklence, uke bwo occipants of the quiet soom heard the
approach on steps abd the cjink of spurs in the corridor.

‘It is tie revxrendo
once more important to me than my was ago, and now consider myself should. am your friend, and much too to be over-scrupulous. I peep and into my neighbours’ affairs, and I am uneasy about you, my child.’ He his head and drummed upon the table with his dirty fingers. ‘Thank you,’ the with defiant laugh, ‘but I can manage my own affairs.’ The priest nodded reflectively. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It natural that you should say that. One of chief blessings of youth self confidence. Heaven forbid that should yours. But, see, are people who happen be anxious that this little affair should blow over and be forgotten. The Alcalde is a mule, know that, that serves magnify and office is likely prolonged. Do not play into his tell you, there are some who wish to this incident, one of them is coming to you this afternoon.’ ‘Ah!’ said the girl indifferently. Vincente.’ Julia changed colour and her eyelids flickered for a moment as she looked out open window. ‘A good continued Concha, ‘but—’ finished phrase an little gesture the hand. At this moment they both heard the sound of approaching carriage. ‘He is coming now,’ said Concha. ‘He is Estella with him.’ ‘Estella of course jealous.’ The looked her with a slow and nothing. and closed lips—true to that _esprit sexe_ which has ruled through the ages. Then Julia as her mind reverted from Estella’s affairs to own. Sitting thus in silence, the two of the quiet room heard the approach of steps and the clink spurs in ‘It is the reverendo
 once more important to me than My own.  That
wAs lonG agO, anD I Now cOnsiDer myself first, AS all Wise men should.  I
am your frIend, JUlIA, and MUcH too oLd to be oVEr-SCRupUlOuS.  I pEeP
AnD pry iNto My neighBours’ affaiRs, aNd i am uneasy aboUT yOu, my
child.’

HE shOok his head anD drUmmed uPoN thE Table WitH his dIrty fiNGers.

‘ThAnk you,’ ansWeREd the gIRl with hER DeFianT little laugh, ‘but I cAN
mANage my own affaiRs.’

The pRiESt NODdeD reFlectively.

‘yeS,’ he saID.  ‘It is naTUrAL THat YOu should say thAt.  One of the
cHIef BlessiNgS of YOuth is Self cOnFIdeNce.  Heaven foRbid That I shouLd
shakE Yours.  BuT, You see, tHere arE seVerAl peOPlE wHo hApPEn tO Be
AnxIOus That this LiTtLe affAir sHOULD bloW ovEr anD be foRgotten.  The
AlcAldE is a MUle, We knoW that, And aNyThing That seRves tO mAgnify
himself anD his Office is lIkeLy To bE pRolonGEd.  Do noT plAy iNto his
hAnd.  As I tELl yOu, THERe Are some who wish to foRgET ThIs incideNt,
and oNE oF tHEm is comiNg To sEe yoU THis afTernOOn.’

‘ah!’ said thE girl iNDiFfErently.

‘geNeral VInCenTe.’

JUlia cHAngeD colouR and her eYelidS Flickered for a mOMent as she lookED
oUT Of THe opEn wIndow.

‘A good fRienD,’ ContInueD coNchA, ‘But—’

He FinisHeD ThE Phrase with an eloquenT lIttle gEsturE of the hand.  At
tHis moment tHEY Both hearD the SOuND of an approachiNg carRiage.

‘He is cOMing now,’ sAid CoNcha.  ‘He is Driving, so eSTella is wIth
Him.’

‘estEllA IS oF course jealouS.’

tHe prIeSt lookeD at Her with A slOw wIse SmiLe And said noThing.

‘She—’ BeGaN JUlIa, aNd theN Closed heR lIps—TrUe tO that _ESprit dE
sexe_ WhicH hAs RUleD througH AlL THe agEs.  thEn JuLia baRenna Gave A
ShaRp sigh aS her mind rEveRTed fRoM EStella’s Affairs to her oWn.

sitting thuS iN siLence, tHE Two occupAnts of the quiet room heard THe
approAch Of stePs anD the clink Of sPurs in The COrridoR.

‘It is tHe revErEndO
 once more important to me  than my o wn. Tha t
w as  lon g ag o, and I now c o nsid er myself first, as al l wis em en s h ou ld. I
am yo u rf r ien d,  J uli a, an d muc h t oo oldto be over -sc ru pulous.  I p e ep 
and pry i nto  my neighbou rs’  affai rs , a n d I a m u neasy  about you, m y
child.’ 
H e shoo k  his he a d  a nd d rummed upon the t a bl e  with his dirt y fing er s .‘ Tha nkyou,’ answ er ed th e  girl w i th h e r d e fiant littlelaugh, ‘but I c an
man ag e m y  own a ffair s. ’ 

T he priest n odde d reflect ively. 
‘Yes,’ he said .  ‘It  is  na tura l  t ha t y ou sho u ld  sa y  th at.  One  o fthe
c hief b l e ssin gsof y outhis self confi den ce.Hea ven f orbid  tha tI sho uld
sh ake y ou rs.  But, you s ee,there are  se ve ral  p eople who ha ppe n t o be
an xious t h atth i s li ttle affair should  b l o wover and  be fo r go tt e n.  TheAl cal de i s a mul e, w e  k now that , anda ny th ing tha tserves  t o m agn ify
h i msel f andhis offi ce is likely to be p r olonged.  Don ot p la y  int o h is
hand.  A s It ellyou, th ere are s ome w ho wi s h to forget this in ci dent,and o ne of them is  coming to s e e you th is a f te r noon.’

‘Ah!’saidthe girl i n differen tly.
‘Genera l Vincent e . ’

Julia  ch ang edcol o u rand her eyeli d s  fli ck ered fo r a  moment  as  sh e l ook ed 
out of t he openwi nd ow .
‘A  good friend,’  c ont in ued  Conc h a, ‘bu t—’
He f in is h edthe phr a se w ithan  e loqu ent  l ittle  ges t ure  of the  hand.  A t
t h is m om en t theyboth heard th esound of a napp roachi n g  carriag e.

‘He is coming now,’ said Co nch a.  ‘ He i s driving , s o Este lla is wit h
him. ’

‘E st ell a is of c ou rse  j ealous.’
T h e p riest  l ooke d at he r with a slow wise smi le and said n oth ing. ‘S he— ’  b e gan  J u lia , and then closed  her lips— tr u eto that _e s pri tde
sexe _ which  hasr uled th rough all  the ages . The n Jul ia Barenna  gave asharp sig h  as h e rmindrev ertedfr omEstel la’s a f fai rs to  her o wn .

Sit tingth us in si lence, the two occupant s of t he qu iet  room hea rdt heapproachof s teps and t hecli nk of  sp u rs in  the co rri d or.
‘Iti s the rev e re ndo 
 once_more important_to me than my_own. _That
was_long ago,_and_I now consider_myself first, as_all wise men should._ I
am your_friend,_Julia, and much too old to be over-scrupulous.  I peep
and pry into my_neighbours’_affairs, and_I_am_uneasy about you, my
child.’

He shook_his head and drummed upon_the table_with his dirty fingers.

‘Thank you,’ answered the girl_with_her defiant little_laugh, ‘but I can
manage my own affairs.’

The priest nodded_reflectively.

‘Yes,’ he said.  ‘It is_natural that you_should_say_that.  One of_the
chief blessings of youth is self_confidence.  Heaven forbid that I_should
shake yours.  But, you see, there_are several people who happen to_be
anxious that this little affair_should blow_over and be forgotten. _The
Alcalde is a_mule, we_know that, and_anything that serves to magnify
himself and_his office is_likely to be prolonged.  Do_not_play into his
hand.__As_I tell_you, there are_some_who wish_to_forget this incident,
and one of them_is_coming to see you this afternoon.’

‘Ah!’ said_the girl indifferently.

‘General Vincente.’

Julia_changed_colour and her eyelids_flickered for a moment as_she looked
out of the open window.

‘A_good friend,’_continued Concha,_‘but—’

He finished the phrase with an eloquent little gesture of the_hand.  At
this moment they both_heard the sound of_an approaching_carriage.

‘He_is coming now,’_said_Concha. _‘He is driving, so Estella is with
him.’

‘Estella_is of_course jealous.’

The priest looked at her_with a slow wise_smile_and said nothing.

‘She—’ began Julia, and_then closed her lips—true to that__esprit de
sexe_ which has ruled_through_all_the ages.  Then Julia_Barenna gave a
sharp sigh as her_mind reverted from_Estella’s affairs to her own.

Sitting thus in_silence,_the two occupants of the quiet_room_heard the
approach of steps and the_clink_of_spurs in the corridor.

‘It is_the reverendo