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 Espadana, his senora the _Doctora_ Dona Victorina de los Reyes _de_ De Espadana, and a young Spaniard of pleasant countenance and agreeable aspect.
Dona Victorina was attired in a loose silk gown embroidered with flowers and a hat with a huge parrot half-crushed between blue and red ribbons.

The dust of the road mingled with the rice-powder on her cheeks seemed to accentuate her wrinkles.

As at the time we saw her in Manila, she now supported her lame husband on her arm.
"I have the pleasure of introducing to you our cousin, Don Alfonso Linares de Espadana," said Dona Victorina, indicating their young companion.

"The gentleman is a godson of a relative of Padre Damaso's and has been private secretary to all the ministers." The young man bowed politely and Capitan Tiago came very near to kissing his hand.
While their numerous trunks and traveling-bags are being carried in and Capitan Tiago is conducting them to their rooms, let us talk a little of this couple whose acquaintance we made slightly in the first chapters.
Dona Victorina was a lady of forty and five winters, which were equivalent to thirty and two summers according to her arithmetical calculations.