Fermín did not wait for the order to be repeated. It must be said that it was given in the sweetest and most insinuating manner.
“Don’t you see how I did it?” asked Salome, slowing her walk, and looking at the branches in badly feigned indifference. Then she began to look at her feet, as if to count her slow steps. I broke the silence by saying to her, “Now tell me what it is that gives you so much trouble.”
“You see it makes me feel … I don’t know how to tell you.”
“Why so?”
“It is because they act so sad and serious with me today.”
“That’s all your imagination. But begin, for you can’t do it afterwards. Besides, I have something very nice to tell you.”
“Is that so? You begin, then.”
“By no means,” I replied.
“Must it be, then? Well, listen. But promise me never to tell a single thing of what …”
“Of course.”
“Well, what has happened is that Tiburcio has turned out the most fickle and unthankful person, and goes around doing nonsensical things to make me sorry. We have been quarrelling for almost a month, and he has not the least reason.”
“No reason at all? Are you sure?”
“Look, I swear it.”
“And what does he say is the matter with him to treat you so after having loved you so much?”
“Tiburcio? Impudent fellow! He does not love me a bit. At first, I could not understand why he acted so disagreeably all the while, but afterwards I found out that it was because he had an idea that I was making a pretty face at everyone I saw. Tell me, can one endure that, an honest woman? He made that stupid mistake in the first place, and then you joined the dance.”
“What, I?”
“Just when he was going to speak!”
“Why, what did he think?”
“What is the use of my telling you when you can guess already? It was all because he saw you come to the house several times, and because I am fond of you. It was natural that he should be suspicious, wasn’t it?”
“But finally he saw it was all nonsense, I suppose?”
“Oh, it cost me tears and fine words to make him reasonable again!”
“Really, I am sorry to have been the cause of this.”
“Never mind that. If it had not been you, it would have been another. Listen, I have not told you the best. My papa was breaking some colts for that boy Justiniano, and he had to come, besides, to see some steers he had in training. Once when he was here, Tiburcio met him.”
“Here?”
“Don’t be silly. In the house. As a punishment for my sins, he met him once again.”
“That makes twice, Salome.”
“Would that had been all! He also met him one Sunday afternoon when he came to ask a drink of water.”
“That makes three.”
“That is all, for, although he has come other times, Tiburcio did not see him. Still, I believe that they have told him.”
“And to you does this seem a mere nothing?”
“Are you, too, going to say the same thing? Oh, dear! Is it my fault that the boy keeps on coming? Why does not my papa tell him never to come again?”
“There are some very simple things hard to do.”
“There! that’s exactly what I told Tiburcio. But there is a remedy for everything, and of that I hardly dare speak to you.”
“He must marry you quickly … isn’t that it?”
“If he loves me so much. But he already—and he could think me a woman of that kind!”
Her eyes were moist, and after a few more steps she stopped to dry her tears.
“Don’t cry,” I said. “I am sure he doesn’t believe that. It is all the result of jealousy. You must try to overcome it.”
“Don’t you believe that. He ought not to be so proud. Because they have told him he is a gentleman’s son, no one comes up to the ankle of the vain fellow, and he thinks there’s no one like him. I should be very happy if ’ñor José would turn him off. He is so provoking!”
“You must not be unfair. What is it against him that he works for José? That simply means he is making good use of his time. It would be worse if he passed all his days in idleness.”
“Oh, I know what Tiburcio is. He ought not to be so much in love.”
“But, because he admires you, must he admire every woman he sees?”
“Of course.”
I laughed at her reply, and she turned her eyes upon me to say, “Well, what tickles you in that?”
“Why, don’t you see that you are treating Tiburcio exactly as he treats you?”
“Heaven help me! no. How do I treat him?”
“Why, you are jealous of him.”
“Not at all. Never that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well, if he made me? No one will ever make me believe that, if ’ñor José would consent, this changeable fellow would not marry Lucía, and, if Tránsito were not now out of the question, both of them, if they would let him.”
“Why, I must tell you that Lucía has long loved Braulio’s brother, who is soon coming for her. There is no doubt about it, for Tránsito told me.”
Salome was plunged in thought. We reached the end of the cacao-plantation. She sat down upon a fallen tree, and said: “Well, tell me. What do you think is to be done?”
“Will you let me tell Tiburcio what we have been talking about?”
“No, no. By what you love most, don’t do that.”
“I only ask if you will consent.”
“All of it?”
“Only your complaints, without your reproaches.”
“Every time I remember what he thinks me to be, I do not know what I am saying. See, I think it is better not to tell him; for if he does not love me any more,
