myself talk. Well, you're wrong. See here, Rosario, what have you got to
say? You're the most to blame. Come now."

The poor little woman sat there with her head still lowered, playing in
her embarrassment with the ends of her shawl. She muttered something or
other about her husband, and then said slowly: "If she promises ... to
keep him away!"

Dolores started like a shot.

"Keep him away! What do you take me for? A scarecrow, to keep people
away from the house? That fine husband of yours, I'll have you know, is
my husband's brother. You expect me to shut the door in his face and
spit fire at him when he comes around? But, after all, what do I
care?... I don't want to be quarreling all the time, and be made the
talk of half Spain. All those stories about me and Tonet are lies of
people who don't know how else to make trouble in a good family....
Tonet went with me before Pascualo and I were married. Well, was it
wrong to marry his brother? Bosh! Was I the first to do a thing like
that? Well, why else should people talk? No ... all I want is to be let
alone, and not be plagued all the time. Keep Tonet away, no. I won't be
mean to him. However, if I have seemed to be too intimate, I'll be more
careful in the future, even though he's one of the family ... just so
people will have no reason to say anything ...!"

_Tia_ Picores beamed. "Now, that's the way to talk! Some heart in that
girl after all, come now! Well, Rosario! Are you satisfied at last?
There's a good girl! One smack, and bygones are bygones!"

Reluctantly, the women actually pushing the two heads toward each other,
the girls kissed, but without rising from their chairs. _Tia_ Picores,
in the full flush of triumph, could not work her tongue fast enough.
"The idea of two women fighting over a man, as if there were only one in
the world! And that's just what the rascals want you to do, sillies.
Every time you quarrel over a man his stock goes up, and he thinks he's
got so much more hold on you. No, indeed, women have got to stand their
ground, good and hard, the way I did. My husband? Why, if he ever went
on a rampage, I brought him to order mighty quick, I did; and the first
thing he knew he was for asking my pardon. Was there ever a man in the
world worth getting jealous over? Not much! Why worry then? Do you ever
know where your man is when he is away from home? Of course, you don't.
Just take it for granted he is up to mischief, and then forget about it.