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 XLVII 218<br />
CHAPTER XLVII<br />
<strong>The</strong> Two Señoras<br />
While Capitan Tiago was gambling on his lásak, Doña Victorina was taking a walk through the town for the<br />
purpose of observing how the indolent Indians kept their houses and fields. She was dressed as elegantly as<br />
possible with all her ribbons and flowers over her silk gown, in order to impress the provincials and make<br />
them realize what a distance intervened between them and her sacred person. Giving her arm to her lame<br />
husband, she strutted along the streets amid the wonder and stupefaction of the natives. Her cousin Linares<br />
had remained in the house.<br />
"What ugly shacks these Indians have!" she began with a grimace. "I don't see how they can live in them--one<br />
must have to be an Indian! And how rude they are and how proud! <strong>The</strong>y don't take off their hats when they<br />
meet us! Hit them over the head as the curates and the officers of the Civil Guard do--teach them politeness!"<br />
"And if they hit me back?" asked Dr. De Espadaña.<br />
"That's what you're a man for!"<br />
"B-but, I'm l-lame!"<br />
Doña Victorina was falling into a bad humor. <strong>The</strong> streets were unpaved and the train of her gown was covered<br />
with dust. Besides, they had met a number of young women, who, in passing them, had dropped their eyes<br />
and had not admired her rich costume as they should have done. Sinang's cochero, who was driving Sinang<br />
and her cousin in an elegant carriage, had the impudence to yell "Tabi!" in such a commanding tone that she<br />
had to jump out of the way, and could only protest: "Look at that brute of a cochero! I'm going to tell his<br />
master to train his servants better."<br />
"Let's go back to the house," she commanded to her husband, who, fearing a storm, wheeled on his crutch in<br />
obedience to her mandate.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y met and exchanged greetings with the alferez. This increased Doña Victorina's ill humor, for the officer<br />
not only did not proffer any compliment on her costume, but even seemed to stare at it in a mocking way.<br />
"You ought not to shake hands with a mere alferez," she said to her husband as the soldier left them. "He<br />
scarcely touched his helmet while you took off your hat. You don't know how to maintain your rank!"<br />
"He's the b-boss here!"<br />
"What do we care for that? We are Indians, perhaps?"<br />
"You're right," he assented, not caring to quarrel. <strong>The</strong>y passed in front of the officer's dwelling. Doña<br />
Consolacion was at the window, as usual, dressed in flannel and smoking her cigar. As the house was low, the<br />
two señoras measured one another with looks; Doña Victorina stared while the Muse of the Civil Guard<br />
examined her from head to foot, and then, sticking out her lower lip, turned her head away and spat on the<br />
ground. This used up the last of Doña Victorina's patience. Leaving her husband without support, she planted<br />
herself in front of the alfereza, trembling with anger from head to foot and unable to speak. Doña Consolacion<br />
slowly turned her head, calmly looked her over again, and once more spat, this time with greater disdain.<br />
"What's the matter with you, Doña?" she asked.