Juanita la Larga: a Novel

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Bewildered by the events of that day and still more by the expulsion of which he had just been the object, Don Paco did not know what direction to take or what to think, and automatically headed for his house to reflect and do an examination of conscience. The first thing he noted was that he had a very clear one. It was no crime, although it might pass for an extravagance, for him to be in love with that girl who could be his granddaughter. Having gone to her house every night for several weeks did not exactly strike him as imprudent and worthy of censure. He formed successively, and sometimes simultaneously, different opinions of Juanita, as if in the depths of her being there was something mysterious and indecipherable . He recognized only too well that if Juanita had not jilted him, it was because he had not formally proposed, but from the way she jokingly called him grandfather, prevented him from whispering in her ear, and avoided being alone with him, it was abundantly clear that she did not want to accept him as a fiancé or a lover. Still, could this be calculation or a woman’s shrewd instinct to captivate him better or string him along with vague hopes? Don Paco also recalled Juanita’s whispers with Antoñuelo and got jealous. What if she was in love with Antoñuelo, and not deeming him a suitable fiancé, thought about dropping him and in the end decided in Don Paco’s favor as a better and more advantageous match? What if she vacillated between her own preference and what her mother undoubtedly advised her? Whatever the case, Juanita’s image was imprinted on Don Paco’s mind, and she seemed more and more beautiful and desirable to him. Well did he realize that neither she nor her 91 92 Juanita la Larga mother had ever tried to prosper in any unlawful or sinful way at his expense. Perhaps the mother desired him as a son-in-law. As for the daughter, up till then she had shown no sign of desiring him, and even less of seeking him out as a lover or husband. He had made all the advances. All that furor stirred up against the two women was his fault, and he had no doubt whatsoever that Doña Inés was the instigator. Then Don Paco considered, and this flattered him and puffed him up with pride, that Juanita, even though she did not love him, delighted in his conversation, laughed at his jokes, applauded his witticisms, and, while listening to him, was very attentive and as though hanging on his words. In that house, from which he had been dismissed, he had received only honorable and friendly favors, in return for which, and for whatever reason, both women had just been grievously wronged, and he believed that it was incumbent upon him to seek satisfaction. Carried away by these reflections, Don Paco decided to go and see his daughter, to explain to her frankly and faithfully what had happened and call her to account for her pernicious conduct. He had to pluck up a lot of courage in order to be bold enough to take that step. With her severity and her rigidity, Doña Inés almost instilled fear in her father, but shame overcame him. He did what he could to set his apprehension aside, and with all the determination and resolution that he was able to muster, headed for the house of Señora Doña Inés López de Roldán, whom he knew he would find alone during the siesta hour. In those days the main meal in Doña Inés’s house was eaten at two o’clock in the afternoon. Don Álvaro, when he was not in the country, went to bed immediately afterward, and since he ate heartily and drank freely of the exquisite wine made locally, and which is superior to that of Jerez de la Frontera, no offense intended, he stretched out and would be snoring until four or five in the afternoon . Serafina, Calvete, and the nurse took the children to the other end of the house where they would not be a bother with their noise. Doña Inés then remained alone in her drawing room or in her study, either settling accounts...