The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER LX 276
"Notify the restaurant that we'll have a fiesta tomorrow. Get Maria ready, for we're going to marry her off
before long."
Aunt Isabel stared at him in consternation.
"You'll see! When Señor Linares is our son-in-law we'll get into all the palaces. Every one will envy us, every
one will die of envy!"
Thus it happened that at eight o'clock on the following evening the house of Capitan Tiago was once again
filled, but this time his guests were only Spaniards and Chinese. The fair sex was represented by Peninsular
and Philippine-Spanish ladies.
There were present the greater part of our acquaintances: Padre Sibyla and Padre Salvi among various
Franciscans and Dominicans; the old lieutenant of the Civil Guard, Señor Guevara, gloomier than ever; the
alferez, who was for the thousandth time describing his battle and gazing over his shoulders at every one,
believing himself to be a Don John of Austria, for he was now a major; De Espadaña, who looked at the
alferez with respect and fear, and avoided his gaze; and Doña Victorina, swelling with indignation. Linares
had not yet come; as a personage of importance, he had to arrive later than the others. There are creatures so
simple that by being an hour behind time they transform themselves into great men.
In the group of women Maria Clara was the subject of a murmured conversation. The maiden had welcomed
them all ceremoniously, without losing her air of sadness.
"Pish!" remarked one young woman. "The proud little thing!"
"Pretty little thing!" responded another. "But he might have picked out some other girl with a less foolish
face."
"The gold, child! The good youth is selling himself."
In another part the comments ran thus:
"To get married when her first fiancé is about to be hanged!"
"That's what's called prudence, having a substitute ready."
"Well, when she gets to be a widow--"
Maria Clara was seated in a chair arranging a salver of flowers and doubtless heard all these remarks, for her
hand trembled, she turned pale, and several times bit her lips.
In the circle of men the conversation was carried on in loud tones and, naturally, turned upon recent events.
All were talking, even Don Tiburcio, with the exception of Padre Sibyla, who maintained his usual disdainful
silence.
"I've heard it said that your Reverence is leaving the town, Padre Salvi?" inquired the new major, whose fresh
star had made him more amiable.
"I have nothing more to do there. I'm going to stay permanently in Manila. And you?"
"I'm also leaving the town," answered the ex-alferez, swelling up. "The government needs me to command a
flying column to clean the provinces of filibusters."