The people of the town have made their preparation for the festival inhonor of the patron saint, San Diego, and are gossiping about it, andabout the arrival of Maria Clara, accompanied by her aunt Isabel. Theyrejoiced over it, because they liked her, and admired her beauty verymuch. They also rejoiced in the change it had made in the priest,Father Salvi. "He is often absent-minded during the holy services,"they said. "He scarcely speaks with us, and he plainly grows morethin and taciturn." His cook saw this constantly and complained of thelittle honor that he did his dishes. But what most excited the wonderof the people were the two lights which one could see shining in theconvent during the night, while Father Salvi was visiting at the houseof Maria Clara! The old dames crossed themselves and kept on gossiping.
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra had telegraphed from the capital of the provincehis compliments to Aunt Isabel and her niece, but he had not explainedhis absence. Many thought that he had been arrested for assaultingFather Salvi on the afternoon of "All Saint's Day." But the commentsincreased still more when, on the afternoon of the third day, theysaw Ibarra get out of a carriage in front of the little house of hisbetrothed, and courteously salute the priest, who was also makinghis way thither.
If we go to Maria Clara's house, we will find it like a little nestamong orange and ilang-ilang trees, surrounded by flowers and vineswhich creep up on bamboo sticks and wires, diffusing their deliciousperfume. The rich fragrance of the ilang-ilang reaches even tothe window which looks out on the lake. Here sit the two younglovers. Ibarra was saying to Maria Clara:
"To-morrow, before the first ray of morning, your desire shall befulfilled. To-night, I shall arrange all so that nothing will belacking."
"Then I will write to my friends, so that they may come along. Arrangeit so that the priest cannot come."
"And why?"
"Because he seems to be watching me. His deep and sombre eyes painme. When he fixes them upon me, they frighten me. He speaks to me ofextraordinary things, so incomprehensible, so strange. He asked meonce if I had not dreamed about my mother's letters. I believe heis half crazy. My friend Sinang, and Andeng, my foster sister, saythat he is a little out of his head, for he neither eats nor bathes,and he lives entirely in the darkness. Don't have him come!"
"We cannot but invite him," replied Ibarra. "The customs of thecountry require it. He is the priest of your house and, besides, he hasconducted himself nobly toward me. When the Alcalde consulted him onthe business of which I have spoken to you, he had nothing but praisesfor me and did not pretend to offer the slightest obstacle. But I seethat you are serious. I shall take care that he does not accompanyus in the boat."
Light steps were heard. They were those of the priest, who wasapproaching with a forced smile on his lips. They began to talk ofdifferent subjects, about the weather, the town and the festival. MariaClara devised an excuse and went out.
"And while we are speaking about festivals," said Ibarra, "allow me toinvite you to the one which we are going to celebrate to-morrow. It isgoing to be a country picnic, which we and our friends are planning."
"And where will it be held?"
"The girls want to hold it near the brook in the woods, near the balititree. So we will have to get up early to reach the place before thesun gets hot."
The priest reflected, and a moment later replied: "The invitationis very tempting, and I accept it in order to prove that I hold nogrudge against you for what has happened in the past. But I will haveto be a little late, as I must fulfill my religious duties first. Howhappy to be like you, entirely free and independent!"
A few minutes later, Ibarra took his leave in order to arrange forthe picnic on the following day. It was already quite dark when heleft the house.