of the family.... You couldn't stick on your full
rights with a boy of your own flesh and blood! And the Rector, still
moved at his uncle's lavish kindness, nodded grateful assent.

They sat on in silence for a while. Tonet was all taken up with the game
nearby, and did not try to follow the conversation which the two men
were carrying on, as much with their eyes, almost, as with their lips,
which hardly moved.

And when were they intending to start, _tio_ Mariano went on. Right
away, he supposed; so he had better get his letter off without delay.
The Rector assured him, however, it would be out of the question to sail
before Easter-Saturday. He would be better pleased to leave earlier in
the week, but there was that procession to the Sepulcher with the body
of Christ on Good Friday, and he had promised to lead the mob of "Jews."
Something he couldn't really miss. Been in the family, years and
years--that part in the ceremonies of Holy Week, and many people were
waiting for a chance to get it. The hangman's costume he wore for that
occasion had belonged to his father.

Though _tio_ Mariano passed for an infidel in town, because the curate
never got a red cent out of him on any pretext, he nodded solemn
approval of his nephew's pious intention. Quite right, quite
right--everything in its own time and place! The Rector and his brother
rose to their feet on seeing that the august personages their uncle had
been expecting were approaching. They could depend on him, then. Yes,
and another talk later on to fix on the last details. Would they have a
little something? What? Not been to dinner yet? Well, it would be
waiting for them at home, probably! _Hasta la vista, chiquets!_ And the
two boys walked slowly off down the deserted sidewalk on their way back
to the cabin district.

"And what did uncle say?" Tonet asked casually.

The Rector, who never wasted any words if he could help it, moved his
head up and down vertically. Tonet beamed with excited joy. A sure
thing, then! Fine! Pascualo was at last on the road to money, and he,
well, at least, he could see his way through the summer. The
good-natured Rector kept reflecting to himself on what an unselfish
fellow his brother was, and almost felt like hugging him. Yes, that
boy's heart was in the right place! Fond as could be of him and of
Dolores, and he loved little Pascualet as though the baby were his own
child! If only their two wives could get along together a littl