CHAPTER XXVIII
THE TWO SEÑORAS.
While Captain Tiago was fighting his lásak against the bulik,
Doña Victorina took a walk through the town, with the intention of
seeing the condition of the indolent natives, and of their houses
and fields. She had dressed as elegantly as she could, putting all
her ribbons and flowers on her silk gown, in order to impress the
provincials, and make them see how great a distance was between
them and her sacred person. Giving her arm to her lame husband, she
fluttered through the streets of the town, among the stupefied and
wondering inhabitants. Cousin Linares had remained in the house.
"What ugly houses these natives have," began Doña Victorina, making a
grimace. "I don't know how they can live there: one must be a native
to do it. They meet us and don't uncover their heads! Hit them over
the head as the curates and tenientes of the Guardia Civil do when
they don't take off their hats. Teach them manners."
"And if they hit me?" asked Dr. de Espadaña.
"Aren't you a man?"
"Bu--bu--but, I am la--la--lame."
Doña Victorina was becoming bad-humored. The streets were not paved,
and the train of her gown was covered with dust. Besides, they met many
young women, who, on passing her, cast down their eyes and did not
admire her lavish dress as they should have done. Sinang's coachman,
who was driving her and her cousin in an elegant carriage, had the
impudence to call out tabi [20] to them in such a warning voice
that she had to get out of the way, and was only able to exclaim,
"Look at that brute of a coachman! I am going to tell his master that
he should educate his servants better!"
"Let us go back to the house," she ordered her husband.
He, fearing that there was going to be a storm, turned on his heels
and obeyed the command.
They met the alferez on the way back and greeted him. He increased
the discontent of Doña Victorina, for he not only failed to compliment
her on her dress, but surveyed it almost with a mocking manner.
"You ought not to extend your hand to a simple alferez," said she
to her husband as soon as they were some distance away. "He scarcely
touches his helmet, and you take off your hat. You don't know how to
maintain your rank."
"He is ch--ch--chief here!"
"And what does that matter to us? Are we, perchance, natives?"
"You are right," replied he, not wishing to quarrel.
They passed by the officer's house. Doña Consolacion was in the window,
