he marched directly to the house, or rather cabin, of Juana Donilla, and
stood before her, smiling and watching her small, thin fingers plaitting
straw for hats, some minutes ere she was aware of his presence. "Pedro!"
exclaimed she, with a countenance and voice of pleasure, as she
recognised the intruder.--"Ay, _Pedro_ it is, indeed, Juana; but,
improved as _I_ am. O, mercy upon me, how black _you_ are
looking!"--"_Black_, cousin? Nay, then, I'm sure 'tis not for want of
washing. Come, come, Pedro, no jokes, if you please."--"By St. Jago,
fair cousin, I'm as far from a joke as I am from a diploma; and my
business in this house, as in most houses, is no _jest_, I assure you.
In a word, the cries which you utter when suffering from the insane fury
of your sottish husband have reached even me, and I'm come to offer you
a little advice and assistance. No denial of the fact, Juana; those
black bruises avouch it without a tongue."--Juana held down her head,
colour mounted into her cheeks, tears suffused her eyes, her bosom
heaved convulsively, and for some moments she was silent from confusion,
shame, grief, and gratitude. At length, withdrawing her hand from the
affectionate grasp of Pedro, and dashing it athwart her eyes, she looked
up and said mildly, "Thanks, many thanks, dear cousin, for your
kindness. I cannot dissemble with you; what would you have me do? I
could not _beat_ him in return; and, oh! save him from the arm of
my brothers!"--"What have you always done?"--"Borne his stripes, and
called for help upon St. Jago, St. Francis Xavier, St. Benedict, and
St. Nicholas!"--"And did you never invoke the three holy Maries?"--
"Never."--"Then that's what you ought to have done," returned Senor
Pedrillo, with the utmost gravity. "Now mind me,--call upon _them_
for aid next time your husband maltreats you."--"Alas!" sighed the
afflicted wife, "_that_ will most surely be to-night. I've not much
faith in your remedy, Pedro; but may be there's no harm in trying
it."--"Farewell, then, my poor, pretty, patient, black-bruised cousin,"