The longing to see something of that beautiful country of which Benito was often talking was not wanting, nevertheless.
Two or three times Yaquita had sounded her husband in the matter.

But she had noticed that the thought of leaving the fazenda, if only for a few weeks, brought an increase of sadness to his face.

His eyes would close, and in a tone of mild reproach he would answer: "Why leave our home?
Are we not comfortable here ?" And Yaquita, in the presence of the man whose active kindness and unchangeable tenderness rendered her so happy, had not the courage to persist.
This time, however, there was a serious reason to make it worth while.
The marriage of Minha afforded an excellent opportunity, it being so natural for them to accompany her to Belem, where she was going to live with her husband.

She would there see and learn to love the mother of Manoel Valdez.

How could Joam Garral hesitate in the face of so praiseworthy a desire?
Why, on the other hand, did he not participate in this desire to become acquainted with her who was to be the second mother of his child?
Yaquita took her husband's hand, and with that gentle voice which had been to him all the music of his life: "Joam," she said, "I am going to talk to you about something which we ardently wish, and which will make you as happy as we are." "What is it about, Yaquita ?" asked Joam.
"Manoel loves your daughter, he is loved by her, and in this union they will find the happiness----" At the first words of Yaquita Joam Garral had risen, without being able to control a sudden start.