to-morrow,
Don Santiago. I think she does not need to confess, and yet, if she
will once more, this evening----"

"I don't know," said Dona Victorina, profiting by the pause to
continue her reflections, "I don't understand how men can marry such
frights. One easily sees where that woman came from. She is dying of
envy, that shows in her eyes. What does an alferez get?"

"So prepare Maria for confession," the curate continued, turning to
Aunt Isabel.

The good aunt left the group and went to her niece's room. Maria Clara
was still in bed, and pale, very pale; beside her were her two friends.

Sinang was giving her her medicine.

"He has not written to you again?" asked Maria, softly.

"No."

"He gave you no message for me?"

"No; he only said he was going to make every effort to have the
archbishop raise the ban of excommunication----"

The arrival of Aunt Isabel interrupted the conversation.

"The father says you are to prepare yourself for confession, my child,"
said she. "Sinang, leave her to examine her conscience. Shall I bring
you the 'Anchor,' the 'Bouquet,' or the 'Straight Road to Heaven,'
Maria?"

Maria Clara did not reply.

"Well, we mustn't fatigue you," said the good aunt consolingly;
"I will read you the examination myself, and you will only have to
remember your sins."

"Write him to think of me no more," murmured the sick girl in
Sinang's ear.

"What!"

But Aunt Isabel came back with her book, and Sinang had to go.

The good aunt drew her chair up to the light, settled her glasses on
the tip of her nose, and opened a little book.

"Give good attention, my child: I will begin with the commandments of
God; I shall go slowly, so that you may meditate: if you don't hear
well, you must tell me, and I will repeat; you know I'm never weary
of working for your good."

In a voice monotonous and nasal, she began to read. Maria Clara
gazed vaguely into space. The first commandment finished, Aunt Isabel
observed her listener over her glasses, and appeared satisfied with
her sad and meditative air. She coughed piously, and after a long
pause began the second. The good old woman read with unction. The
terms of the second commandment finished, she again looked at her
niece, who slowly turned away her head.

"Bah!" said Aunt Isabel within herself, "as to taking His holy name
in vain, the poor thing has nothing to question: pass on to the third."

And the third commandment sifted and commentat