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which might； perhaps； give ground for interpretations discreditable to my dear daughter's reputation。 But as you think of nothing but machines； you want every thing done by steam。 Wait； man； wait； what hurry are you in？ This hatred that you have taken to our poor Orbajosa is nothing but a caprice。 But of course you can only live among counts and marquises and orators and diplomatsall you want is to get married and separate me forever from my daughter；〃 she added； wiping away a tear。 〃Since that is the case； inconsiderate boy； at least have the charity to delay for a little this marriage； for which you are so eager。 What impatience！ What ardent love！ I did not suppose that a poor country girl like my daughter could inspire so violent a passion。〃
The arguments of his aunt did not convince Pepe Rey； but he did not wish to contradict her。 A fresh cause of anxiety was soon added to those which already embittered his existence。 He had now been in Orbajosa for two weeks； and during that time he had received no letter from his father。 This could not be attributed to carelessness on the part of the officials of the post…office of Orbajosa； for the functionary who had charge of that service being the friend and /prot間？ of Dona Perfecta； the latter every day recommended him to take the greatest care that the letters addressed to her nephew did not go astray。 The letter…carrier； named Cristoval Ramos； and nicknamed Caballucoa personage whose acquaintance we have already madealso visited the house； and to him Dona Perfecta was accustomed to address warnings and reprimands as energetic as the following：
〃A pretty mail service you have！ How is it that my nephew has not received a single letter since he has been in Orbajosa？ When the carrying of the mail is entrusted to such a giddy…pate； how can things be expected to go well？ I will speak to the governor of the province so that he may be careful what kind of people he puts in the post…office。〃
Caballuco； shrugging his shoulders； looked at Rey with the most complete indifference。
One day he entered the house with a letter in his hand。
〃Thank Heaven！〃 said Dona Perfecta to her nephew。 〃Here are letters from your father。 Rejoice； man！ A pretty fright we have had through my brother's laziness about writing。 What does he say？ He is well； no doubt；〃 she added； seeing that Pepe Rey opened the letter with feverish impatience。
The engineer turned pale as he glanced over the first lines。
〃Good Heavens！ Pepe； what is the matter？〃 exclaimed Dona Perfecta； rising in alarm。 〃Is your father ill？〃
〃This letter is not from my father；〃 responded Pepe； revealing in his countenance the greatest consternation。
〃What is it； then？〃
〃An order from the Minister of Public Works； relieving me from the charge which was confided to me。〃
〃What！ Can it be possible！〃
〃A dismissal pure and simple； expressed in terms very little flattering to me。〃
〃Was there ever any thing so unjust！〃 exclaimed Dona Perfecta； when she had recovered from her amazement。
〃What a humiliation！〃 exclaimed the young man。 〃It is the first time in my life that I have received an affront like this。〃
〃But the Government is unpardonable！ To put such a slight upon you！ Do you wish me to write to Madrid？ I have very good friends there； and I may be able to obtain satisfaction for you from the Government and reparation for this brutal affront。〃
〃Thanks； senora； I desire no recommendations；〃 said the young man； with ill…humor。
〃But what a piece of injustice！ what a high…handed proceeding！ To discharge in this way a young man of your merit； an eminent scientist。 Why； I cannot contain my anger！〃
〃I will find out；〃 said Pepe； with energy； 〃who it is that occupies himself in injuring me。〃
〃That ministerbut what is to be expected from those infamous politicasters？〃
〃In this there is the hand of some one who is determined to drive me to desperation；〃 declared the young man； visibly disturbed。 〃This is not the act of the minister； this and other contrarieties that I am experiencing are the result of a revengeful plot； of a secret and well… laid plan of some implacable enemy； and this enemy is here in Orbajosa； this plot has been hatched in Orbajosa； doubt it not； dear aunt。〃
〃You are out of your mind；〃 replied Dona Perfecta； with a look of compassion。 〃You have enemies in Orbajosa； you say？ Some one wishes to revenge himself upon you？ Come； Pepillo； you have lost your senses。 The reading of those books in which they say that we have for ancestors monkeys or parrots has turned your brain。〃
She smiled sweetly as she uttered the last words； and taking a tone of familiar and affectionate admonition； she added：
〃My dear boy； the people of Orbajosa may be rude and boorish rustics； without learning； or polish； or fine manners； but in loyalty and good faith we yield to no oneto no one； I say； no one。〃
〃Don't suppose；〃 said the young man； 〃that I accuse any one in this house。 But that my implacable and cruel enemy is in this city； I am persuaded。〃
〃I wish you would show me that stage villain；〃 responded Dona Perfecta； smiling again。 〃I suppose you will not accuse Uncle Licurgo； nor any of the others who have brought suits against you； for the poor people believe they are only defending their rights。 And between ourselves； they are not altogether wanting in reason in this case。 Besides； Uncle Licurgo likes you greatly。 He has told me so himself。 From the moment he saw you； you took his fancy； and the poor old man has conceived such an affection for you〃
〃Oh； yesa profound affection！〃 murmured Pepe。
〃Don't be foolish；〃 continued his aunt； putting her hand on his shoulder and looking at him closely。 〃Don't imagine absurdities； convince yourself that your enemy； if you have one； is in Madrid； in that centre of corruption； of envy and rivalry； not in this peaceful and tranquil corner； where all is good…will and concord。 Some one； no doubt； who is envious of your merit There is one thing I wish to say nowand that is； that if you desire to go there to learn the cause of this affront and ask an explanation of it from the Government； you must not neglect doing so on our account。〃
Pepe Rey fixed his eyes on his aunt's countenance； as if he wished to penetrate with his glance the inmost depths of her soul。
〃I say that if you wish to go； do so；〃 repeated Dona Perfecta； with admirable serenity； while her countenance expressed the most complete and unaffected sincerity。
〃No； senora： I do not wish to go。〃
〃So much the better； I think you are right。 You are more tranquil here； notwithstanding the suspicions with which you are tormenting yourself。 Poor Pepillo！ We poor rustics of Orbajosa live happy in our ignorance。 I am very sorry that you are not contented here。 But is it my fault if you vex and worry yourself without a cause？ Do I not treat you like a son？ Have I not received you as the hope of my house？ Can I do more for you？ If in spite of all this you do not like us； if you show so much indifference toward us； if you ridicule our piety； if you insult our friends； is it by chance because we do not treat you well？〃
Dona Perfecta's eyes grew moist。
〃My dear aunt；〃 said Pepe； feeling his anger vanish； 〃I too have committed some faults since I have been a guest in this house。〃
〃Don't be foolish。 Don't talk about committing faults。 Among the persons of the same family every thing is forgiven。〃
〃But Rosaritowhere is she？〃 asked the young man； rising。 〃Am I not to see her to…day； either？〃
〃She is better。 Do you know that she did not wish to come down stairs？〃
〃I will go up to her then。〃
〃No； it would be of no use。 That girl has some obstinate notions to…day she is determined not to leave her room。 She has locked herself in。〃
〃What a strange idea！〃
〃She will get over it。 Undoubtedly she will get over it。 We will see to…night if we cannot put these melancholy thoughts out of her head。 We will get up a party to amuse her。 Why don't you go to Don Inocencio's and ask him to come here to…night and bring Jacintillo with him？〃
〃Jacintillo！〃
〃Yes； when Rosarito has these fits of melancholy； the only one who can divert her is that young man。〃
〃But I will go upstairs〃
〃No； you