CHAPTER XLVIII

 As Lucas had foretold, Ibarra arrived on

the following day. His first visit was to
the family of Capitan Tiago for the
purpose of seeing Maria Clara and
informing her that his Grace had
reconciled him with religion, and that
he brought to the curate a letter of
recommendation in the handwriting of
the Archbishop himself. Aunt Isabel was
not a little rejoiced at this, for she liked
the young man and did not look
favorably on the marriage of her niece
with Linares. Capitan Tiago was not at
 But Ibarra was unable to advance,
the smile froze on his lips, words
failed him. Standing on the balcony
at the side of Maria Clara was
Linares, arranging bouquets of
flowers and leaves. Roses and
sampaguitas were scattered about
on the floor.
 At the appearance of Ibarra, Linares
turned pale and Maria Clara's cheeks
flushed crimson. An embarrassed
silence prevailed for a few moments.
Ibarra was then able to move
forward and murmur tremblingly,
"I've just got back and have come
immediately to see you. I find you
better than I had thought I should."
 Ibarra looked Linares over from head to
foot with a stare which the bashful
youth bore haughtily. "Well, I see that
my arrival was unexpected," said Ibarra
slowly. "Maria, pardon me that I didn't
have myself announced. At some other
time I'll be able to make explanations
to you about my conduct. We'll still see
one another surely." These last words
were accompanied by a look at Linares.
The girl raised toward him her lovely
eyes, full of purity and sadness. They
were so beseeching and eloquent that
Ibarra stopped in confusion.
 Ibarra withdrew in apparent calm,
but with a tempest in his head and
ice in his heart. What he had just
seen and felt was incomprehensible
to him: was it doubt, dislike, or
faithlessness? "Oh, only a woman
after all!" he murmured. 
 Ibarra withdrew in apparent calm,
but with a tempest in his head and
ice in his heart. What he had just
seen and felt was incomprehensible
to him: was it doubt, dislike, or
faithlessness? "Oh, only a woman
after all!" he murmured. 
 Taking no note of where he was
going, he reached the spot where
the school house was under
construction. The work was well
advanced, Nor Juan with his mile and
plumb-bob coming and going among
the numerous laborers. Upon
catching sight of Ibarra he ran to
meet him.
 Taking no note of where he was
going, he reached the spot where
the school house was under
construction. The work was well
advanced, Nor Juan with his mile and
plumb-bob coming and going among
the numerous laborers. Upon
catching sight of Ibarra he ran to
meet him.
 The workmen saluted Ibarra
respectfully, while Nor Juan made
voluble explanations. "Here is the
piping that I have taken the liberty to
add," he said. "These subterranean
conduits lead to a sort of cesspool,
thirty yards away. It will help fertilize
the garden. There was nothing of that
in the plan. Does it displease
you?" "Quite the contrary, I approve
what you've done and congratulate
you. You are a real architect. From
whom did you learn the
 "Oh, before I forget about it--tell those
who may have scruples, if perhaps
there is any one who fears to speak to
me, that I'm no longer
excommunicated. The Archbishop
invited me to dinner." "_Aba_, sir, we
don't pay any attention to
excommunications! All of us are
excommunicated. Padre Damaso
himself is and yet he stays fat." "How's
that?" "It's true, sir, for a year ago he
caned the coadjutor, who is just as
much a sacred person as he is. Who
 Among the laborers Ibarra caught sight
of Elias, who, as he saluted him along
with the others, gave him to
understand by a look that he had
something to say to him. "Nor Juan,"
said Ibarra, "will you bring me your list
of the laborers?" Nor Juan disappeared,
and Ibarra approached Elias, who was
by himself, lifting a heavy stone into a
cart. "If you can grant me a few hours'
conversation, sir, walk down to the
shore of the lake this evening and get
into my banka." The youth nodded, and
Elias moved away. Nor Juan now