s than to sweat. We all sweat, but we do not
all grow."

"That is true, yes, Isabel, but bear in mind that for wood to sweat
when it is made into the leg of a chair is no small miracle. Well,
the best thing to do is to give alms to both crosses, so that neither
will feel resentful, and Maria Clara will recover more quickly. Are
the rooms in good order? You know that a new senor comes with the
doctors, a relative of Father Damaso by marriage. It is necessary
that nothing be lacking."

The two cousins, Sinang and Victoria, were at the other end of the
dining-room. They had come to keep company with the sick Maria. Andeng
was helping them clean up a tea service in order to serve tea.

"Do you know Doctor Espadana?" asked Maria Clara's foster sister,
directing her question to Victoria.

"No!" replied the latter. "The only thing that I know about him is
that he charges very dearly, according to Captain Tiago."

"Then he ought to be very good," said Andeng. "The one who performed
the operation on the stomach of Dona Marta charged a big price,
but he was very wise."

"You goose!" exclaimed Sinang. "Not all who charge high prices are
wise. Look at Doctor Guevara. He did not know how to aid a woman in
childbirth, but after cutting off the child's head, he collected one
hundred pesos from the widower. What he did know was how to charge."

"What do you know about it?" her cousin asked, giving her a jab with
her elbow.

"Why shouldn't I know about it? The husband, who is a wood-sawyer,
after losing his wife, had to lose his house also, for the Alcalde was
a friend of the doctor's and made him pay. Why shouldn't I know? My
father loaned him money so that he could make a trip to Santa Cruz."

A coach stopped before the house and cut off all the conversation.

Captain Tiago, followed by Aunt Isabel, ran downstairs to receive
the new arrivals. They were the doctor, Don Tiburcio de Espadana, his
wife, Doctora Dona Victorina de los Reyes de de Espadana; and a young
Spaniard. The latter had a sympathetic face and a pleasing appearance.

The doctora wore a silk gown, embroidered with flowers, and on her
hat, a large parrot half crushed among trimmings of red and blue
ribbons. The dust of the road had mingled with the rice powder on
her cheeks, strongly accentuating her wrinkles. She was leaning on
the arm of her lame husband.

"I have the pleasure to present to you our cousin, Don Alfonso Linares
de Espadana," said Dona Vict