by José Rizal
CHAPTER XXII
Lights and Shadows
Three days have passed since the events narrated, three days whichthe town of San Diego has devoted to making preparations for thefiesta, commenting and murmuring at the same time. While all wereenjoying the prospect of the pleasures to come, some spoke ill of thegobernadorcillo, others of the teniente-mayor, others of the young men,and there were not lacking those who blamed everybody for everything.
There was a great deal of comment on the arrival of Maria Clara,accompanied by her Aunt Isabel. All rejoiced over it because they lovedher and admired her beauty, while at the same time they wondered at thechange that had come over Padre Salvi. "He often becomes inattentiveduring the holy services, nor does he talk much with us, and he isthinner and more taciturn than usual," commented his penitents. Thecook noticed him getting thinner and thinner by minutes and complainedof the little honor that was done to his dishes. But that which causedthe most comment among the people was the fact that in the conventowere to be seen more than two lights burning during the evening whilePadre Salvi was on a visit to a private dwelling--the home of MariaClara! The pious women crossed themselves but continued their comments.
Ibarra had telegraphed from the capital of the province welcoming AuntIsabel and her niece, but had failed to explain the reason for hisabsence. Many thought him a prisoner on account of his treatment ofPadre Salvi on the afternoon of All Saints, but the comments reacheda climax when, on the evening of the third day, they saw him alightbefore the home of his fiancee and extend a polite greeting to thepriest, who was just entering the same house.
Sisa and her sons were forgotten by all.
If we should now go into the home of Maria Clara, a beautiful nestset among trees of orange and ilang-ilang, we should surprise the twoyoung people at a window overlooking the lake, shadowed by flowersand climbing vines which exhaled a delicate perfume. Their lipsmurmured words softer than the rustling of the leaves and sweeterthan the aromatic odors that floated through the garden. It was thehour when the sirens of the lake take advantage of the fast fallingtwilight to show their merry heads above the waves to gaze upon thesetting sun and sing it to rest. It is said that their eyes and hairare blue, and that they are crowned with white and red water plants;that at times the foam reveals their shapely forms, whiter thanthe foam itself, and that when night descends completely they begintheir divine sports, playing mysterious airs like those of AEolianharps. But let us turn to our young people and listen to the end oftheir conversation. Ibarra was speaking to Maria Clara.
"Tomorrow before daybreak your wish shall be fulfilled. I'll arrangeeverything tonight so that nothing will be lacking."
"Then I'll write to my girl friends to come. But arrange it so thatthe curate won't be there."
"Why?"
"Because he seems to be watching me. His deep, gloomy eyes troubleme, and when he fixes them on me I'm afraid. When he talks to me, hisvoice--oh, he speaks of such odd, such strange, such incomprehensiblethings! He asked me once if I have ever dreamed of letters from mymother. I really believe that he is half-crazy. My friend Sinang andmy foster-sister, Andeng, say that he is somewhat touched, becausehe neither eats nor bathes and lives in darkness. See to it that hedoes not come!"
"We can't do otherwise than invite him," answered Ibarrathoughtfully. "The customs of the country require it. He is in yourhouse and, besides, he has conducted himself nobly toward me. Whenthe alcalde consulted him about the business of which I've told you,he had only praises for me and didn't try to put the least obstaclein the way. But I see that you're serious about it, so cease worrying,for he won't go in the same boat with us."
Light footsteps were heard. It was the curate, who approached with aforced smile on his lips. "The wind is chilly," he said, "and whenone catches cold one generally doesn't get rid of it until the hotweather. Aren't you afraid of catching cold?" His voice trembledand his eyes were turned toward the distant horizon, away from theyoung people.
"No, we rather find the night pleasant and the breeze delicious,"answered Ibarra. "During these months we have our autumn and ourspring. Some leaves fall, but the flowers are always in bloom."
Fray Salvi sighed.
"I think the union of these two seasons beautiful, with no cold winterintervening," continued Ibarra. "In February the buds on the treeswill burst open and in March we'll have the ripe fruit. When the hotmonth's come we shall go elsewhere."
Fray Salvi smiled and began to talk of commonplace things, of theweather, of the town, and of the fiesta. Maria Clara slipped away onsome pretext.
"Since we are talking of fiestas, allow me to invite you to the onethat we are going to celebrate tomorrow. It is to be a picnic in thewoods, which we and our friends are going to hold together."
"Where will it be held?"
"The young women wish to hold it by the brook in the neighboring wood,near to the old balete, so we shall rise early to avoid the sun."
The priest thought a moment and then answered: "The invitation isvery tempting and I accept it to prove to you that I hold no rancoragainst you. But I shall have to go late, after I've attended to myduties. Happy are you who are free, entirely free."
A few moments later Ibarra left in order to look after the arrangementsfor the picnic on the next day. The night was dark and in the streetsome one approached and saluted him respectfully.
"Who are you?" asked Ibarra.
"Sir, you don't know my name," answered the unknown, "but I've beenwaiting for you two days."
"For what purpose?"
"Because nowhere has any pity been shown me and they say that I'm anoutlaw, sir. But I've lost my two sons, my wife is insane, and everyone says that I deserve what has happened to me."
Ibarra looked at the man critically as he asked, "What do you wantnow?"
"To beg for your pity upon my wife and sons."
"I can't stop now," replied Ibarra. "If you wish to come, you cantell me as we go along what has happened to you."
The man thanked him, and the two quickly disappeared in the shadowsalong the dimly lighted street.
