The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
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CHAPTER XXXVI 172<br />
CHAPTER XXXVI<br />
<strong>The</strong> First Cloud<br />
In Capitan Tiago's house reigned no less disorder than in the people's imagination. Maria Clara did nothing<br />
but weep and would not listen to the consoling words of her aunt and of Andeng, her foster-sister. Her father<br />
had forbidden her to speak to Ibarra until the priests should absolve him from the excommunication. Capitan<br />
Tiago himself, in the midst of his preparations for receiving the Captain-General properly, had been<br />
summoned to the convento.<br />
"Don't cry, daughter," said Aunt Isabel, as she polished the bright plates of the mirrors with a piece of<br />
chamois. "<strong>The</strong>y'll withdraw the excommunication, they'll write now to the Pope, and we'll make a big<br />
poor-offering. Padre Damaso only fainted, he's not dead."<br />
"Don't cry," whispered Andeng. "I'll manage it so that you may talk with him. What are confessionals for if<br />
not that we may sin? Everything is forgiven <strong>by</strong> telling it to the curate."<br />
At length Capitan Tiago returned. <strong>The</strong>y sought in his face the answer to many questions, and it announced<br />
discouragement. <strong>The</strong> poor fellow was perspiring; he rubbed his hand across his forehead, but was unable to<br />
say a single word.<br />
"What has happened, Santiago?" asked Aunt Isabel anxiously.<br />
He answered <strong>by</strong> sighing and wiping away a tear.<br />
"For God's sake, speak! What has happened?"<br />
"Just what I feared," he broke out at last, half in tears. "All is lost! Padre Damaso has ordered me to break the<br />
engagement, otherwise he will damn me in this life and in the next. All of them told me the same, even Padre<br />
Si<strong>by</strong>la. I must close the doors of my house against him, and I owe him over fifty thousand pesos! I told the<br />
padres this, but they refused to take any notice of it. 'Which do you prefer to lose,' they asked me, 'fifty<br />
thousand pesos or your life and your soul?' Ay, St. Anthony, if I had only known, if I had only known! Don't<br />
cry, daughter," he went on, turning to the sobbing girl. "You're not like your mother, who never cried except<br />
just before you were born. Padre Damaso told me that a relative of his has just arrived from Spain and you are<br />
to marry him."<br />
Maria Clara covered her ears, while Aunt Isabel screamed, "Santiago, are you crazy? To talk to her of another<br />
sweetheart now! Do you think that your daughter changes sweethearts as she does her camisa?"<br />
"That's just the way I felt, Isabel. Don Crisostomo is rich, while the Spaniards marry only for love of money.<br />
But what do you want me to do? <strong>The</strong>y've threatened me with another excommunication. <strong>The</strong>y say that not<br />
only my soul but also my body is in great danger--my body, do you hear, my body!"<br />
"But you're only making your daughter more disconsolate! Isn't the Archbishop your friend? Why don't you<br />
write to him?"<br />
"<strong>The</strong> Archbishop is also a friar, the Archbishop does only what the friars tell him to do. But, Maria, don't cry.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Captain-General is coming, he'll want to see you, and your eyes are all red. Ay, I was thinking to spend a<br />
happy evening! Without this misfortune I should be the happiest of men--every one would envy me! Be calm,<br />
my child, I'm more unfortunate than you and I'm not crying. You can have another and better husband, while<br />
I--I've lost fifty thousand pesos! Ay, Virgin of Antipolo, if tonight I may only have luck!"