Maria Clara, lying in an easy-chair among pillows and wraps, was greatly surprised to see the new physiognomy of her doctor.
"Cousin," began Dona Victorina, "you must challenge the alferez right away, or--" "Why ?" asked the startled Linares.
"You challenge him right now or else I'll tell everybody here who you are." "But, Dona Victorina!" The three girls exchanged glances.
"You'll see! The alferez has insulted us and said that you are what you are! His old hag came down with a whip and he, this thing here, permitted the insult--a man!" "_Aba!_" exclaimed Sinang, "they're had a fight and we didn't see it!" "The alferez smashed the doctor's teeth," observed Victoria.
"This very day we go to Manila.

You, you stay here to challenge him or else I'll tell Don Santiago that all we're told him is a lie, I'll tell him--" "But, Dona Victorina, Dona Victorina," interrupted the now pallid Linares, going up to her, "be calm, don't call up--" Then he added in a whisper, "Don't be imprudent, especially just now." At that moment Capitan Tiago came in from the cockpit, sad and sighing; he had lost his _lasak_.

But Dona Victorina left him no time to grieve.

In a few words but with no lack of strong language she related what had happened, trying of course to put herself in the best light possible.
"Linares is going to challenge him, do you hear?
If he doesn't, don't let him marry your daughter, don't you permit it! If he hasn't any courage, he doesn't deserve Clarita!" "So you're going to marry this gentleman ?" asked Sinang, but her merry eyes filled with tears.

"I knew that you were prudent but not that you were fickle." Pale as wax, Maria Clara partly rose and stared with frightened eyes at her father, at Dona Victorina, at Linares.