ds are planning."

"And where will it be held?"

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

CHAPTER XI

THE FISHING PARTY.

The stars were still shining in the sapphire heavens, and the birds
were sleeping on the branches of the trees, when a jolly little party,
by the light from the pitch torches, wandered through the streets of
the town toward the lake.

Five young maidens, clinging to each other's hands or belts, tripped
along briskly. Behind them came several elderly women and a number
of servants gracefully carrying on their heads baskets filled with
provisions and various dishes for the picnic. On seeing their joyful
faces, with their youthful smiles, their beautiful black hair as it
floated in the breeze, and the wide folds of their pretty dresses,
you would have taken them for goddesses of the night and would have
thought that they were fleeing from day--if perchance you had not
already known that it was Maria Clara and her four friends: jolly
Sinang; her cousin, the serious Victoria; beautiful Iday; and the
pensive Neneng, pretty, modest and timid.

They were talking with animation; they laughed; pinched each other;
whispered in each other's ears and then burst out in shouts of
merriment.

"You girls will wake up everybody in town. Don't you know that people
are still asleep?" said Aunt Isabel, reprimanding them. "When we were
young, we didn't make such a noise."

"But you didn't get up as early as we do, nor were the old men such
great sleepers in your day," replied little Sinang.

They were quiet for a moment and were trying to talk in a low voice,
but they quickly forgot themselves and were again filling the streets
with their youthful laughter and melodious voices.

Several young fellows were coming down the street, lighting their way
with large bamboo torches. They were marching along almost nois