de up his mind that it should be a 'reunion'
or 'soiree,' with a lunch of preserved oranges. The excuse for it should
be to hear the reading of a drama which one of the _Independencia_
staff, Gomez de la Floresta, had written, and which had not yet been put
upon the stage on account of the cabals of Ayala, Garcia Gutierrez, and
other small fry, who ruled the theatres with a high hand, and
"monopolized them."

"But didn't you say that this play was very dull, and that you had been
bored to death when you heard it?" asked Maximina.

"That is the very reason. At this kind of 'reunion' it is absolutely
indispensable that the thing read should be bad, so that all that
follows after the reading may seem excellent to the guests. With this
drama you can bring on champagne that cost only thirty reals, and it
will be drunk like nectar."

Maximina did not understand very well this logic of her husband's, and
she looked at him with very wide eyes; but seeing that he added nothing
to make it clearer, she went to another subject,--that of the
invitations.

"Whom would you invite?"

"Provisionally, mamma and Julia."

"Good; and then?"

"Cousin Serafina."

"Who would escort her?"

"Let Enrique accompany her."

"Shall we invite Eulalia?"

"Certainly; but I warn you that she will not come: her husband cannot
abide me."

"And the De Rimirez family?"

"There is nothing against it."

"Asuncion?"

"Certainly."

Maximina hesitated a moment, then grew more serious, and said hastily:--

"And those ladies up stairs, for example?"

A slight smile hovered on Miguel's lips, and he replied:--

"As you please."

"Aunt Anita,[33] of course."

"Yes; I should be glad to see your Uncle Manolo here."

"And what gentlemen shall we have?"

"That will be my part."

"Shall you invite the men on the paper?"

"We will see; according as the cloth holds out."

"And Carlitos?"

"Yes; it will be his duty to illuminate the 'reunion on all disputed
points."

"And Mendoza?"

"Could we think of leaving out the most precious ornament?... But then,
he is very much engaged just at present with his marriage and politics."

This business of the invitations having been settled, and it having been
decided that certain letters should be written and certain calls made,
Maximina remained for some time pensive and melancholy.

At last, taking her husband's hand and looking at him lovingly and
sadly, she said:--

"I am sure that I am