Part 58 (1/2)
”I don't know, but I should try it, as others do; and you can see that I don't try.”
Amparito bit her lips and said ironically:
”Are you reserving yourself for my cousin Adelaida?”
”I am not reserving myself for anybody.”
”We couldn't say that you are very amiable.”
”That is true. I never have been.”
”If you keep on like that when you are a Deputy....”
”What difference is it to you whether I am a Deputy or not? Is it because you have some beau who wants the place? If it is, tell me. I will withdraw in his favour. You must see that I can do no more,” said Caesar jokingly.
”And how you would hate me then; if you had to give up being a Deputy on my account!”
”No.”
”You hate me already.”
”No. You are mistaken.” ”Yes. I believe if you could, you would strike me.”
”No, the most I should do would be to shut you up in a dark room.”
”You are an odious, antipathetic man. I thought I rather liked you, but I only hate you.”
”You know already, Amparito, that I am a candidate for Deputy, but not one for you.”
”All right. All right. I don't wish to hear any more stupid remarks.”
”The stupid remarks are those you are making.”
And Caesar, who was beginning to feel angry, rebuked Amparito too severely, for her coquetry, her bad intentions, and her desire to humiliate and mortify people without any reason.
Amparito listened to him, pale and panting.
”And after all,” said Caesar, ”all this is nothing to me. If I am in your family's way, or even in your way, I can go away from here, and all is ended.”
”No, do not go away,” murmured Amparito, raising her handkerchief to her eyes and beginning to weep bitterly.
Caesar felt deeply grieved; all his anger disappeared, and he stood there, amazed, and not knowing what to do.
”Do not cry,” exclaimed Caesar; ”what will they think of me? Come, don't cry. It is childish.”
At that moment Amparito's father entered the gallery, and he came running to the girl's side.
”What have you done to my daughter?” he cried, approaching Caesar threateningly.
”I, nothing,” he said.