The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XLII 195
CHAPTER XLII
The Espadañas
The fiesta is over. The people of the town have again found, as in every other year, that their treasury is
poorer, that they have worked, sweated, and stayed awake much without really amusing themselves, without
gaining any new friends, and, in a word, that they have dearly bought their dissipation and their headaches.
But this matters nothing, for the same will be done next year, the same the coming century, since it has always
been the custom.
In Capitan Tiago's house sadness reigns. All the windows are closed, the inmates move about noiselessly, and
only in the kitchen do they dare to speak in natural tones. Maria Clara, the soul of the house, lies sick in bed
and her condition is reflected in all the faces, as the sorrows of the mind may be read in the countenance of an
individual.
"Which seems best to you, Isabel, shall I make a poor-offering to the cross of Tunasan or to the cross of
Matahong?" asks the afflicted father in a low voice. "The Tunasan cross grows while the Matahong cross
sweats which do you think is more miraculous?"
Aunt Isabel reflects, shakes her head, and murmurs, "To grow, to grow is a greater miracle than to sweat. All
of us sweat, but not all of us grow."
"That's right, Isabel; but remember that to sweat for the wood of which bench-legs are made to sweat--is not a
small miracle. Come, the best thing will be to make poor-offerings to both crosses, so neither will resent it,
and Maria will get better sooner. Are the rooms ready? You know that with the doctors is coming a new
gentleman, a distant relative of Padre Damaso's. Nothing should be lacking."
At the other end of the dining-room are the two cousins, Sinang and Victoria, who have come to keep the sick
girl company. Andeng is helping them clean a silver tea-set.
"Do you know Dr. Espadaña?" the foster-sister of Maria Clara asks Victoria curiously.
"No," replies the latter, "the only thing that I know about him is that he charges high, according to Capitan
Tiago."
"Then he must be good!" exclaims Andeng. "The one who performed an operation on Doña Maria charged
high; so he was learned."
"Silly!" retorts Sinang. "Every one who charges high is not learned. Look at Dr. Guevara; after performing a
bungling operation that cost the life of both mother and child, he charged the widower fifty pesos. The thing
to know is how to charge!"
"What do you know about it?" asks her cousin, nudging her.
"Don't I know? The husband, who is a poor sawyer, after losing his wife had to lose his home also, for the
alcalde, being a friend of the doctor's, made him pay. Don't I know about it, when my father lent him the
money to make the journey to Santa Cruz?" [114]
The sound of a carriage stopping in front of the house put an end to these conversations. Capitan Tiago,
followed by Aunt Isabel, ran down the steps to welcome the new arrivals: the Doctor Don Tiburcio de
Espadaña, his señora the Doctora Doña Victorina de los Reyes de De Espadaña, and a young Spaniard of
pleasant countenance and agreeable aspect.