It was Cinta who could not listen any longer, and Ulysses felt flattered by her tears, her convulsive laments, her eyes widened with an expression of terror.
Ferragut's mother had been greatly concerned regarding the future of this poor niece.

Her only salvation was matrimony, and the good senora had focused her glances upon a certain relative a little over forty who needed this young girl to enliven his life of mature bachelorhood.

He was the wise one of the family.

Dona Cristina used to admire him because he was not able to read without the aid of glasses, and because he interlarded his conversation with Latin, just like the clergy.

He was teaching Latin and rhetoric in the Institute of Manresa and spoke of being transferred some day to Barcelona,--glorious end of an illustrious career.