Juanita la Larga: a Novel

Chapter 39

Chapter 39 A fter having declared her love for Don Paco and after being assured that Antoñuelo would not be prosecuted, Juanita became so pleased and calmed down to such an extent that she desisted from any intention of revenge on Doña Inés, in spite of how much Doña Inés had harassed her. She also regretted her prolonged deceit and decided to make public her engagement and future marriage to Don Paco, refusing now to put it off past ten or eleven o’clock the evening of the following day, which was Wednesday. Until then she had vague hopes of being able to prepare Doña Inés’s spirit so as to avoid her anger, but if this resulted in failure Juanita, counting on Don Paco’s love and support, was determined to brave Doña Inés’s anger and everyone else’s and do as she pleased by getting married—even if she, her fiancé, and her mother had to abandon Villalegre and lose the standing they enjoyed in town because it had become insufferable. She had seen Juana for a very brief moment, but she had so little trust in her circumspection and self-possession that she did not dare, all of a sudden and without laying the groundwork, to say a word to her or to inform her of her plans. She held off, therefore, until the following day when her mother, after finishing her work at Don Andrés’s house, would return at the same hour she had told Don Paco to come, so that he could also talk to Juana and the three could reach an agreement. Meanwhile, Juanita deemed it prudent and decorous not to see Don Paco, and by forcing herself she exacted a promise from him that he would not look for her or try to see her. Juanita had so many 206 matters to take care of and so many things to think about and do, that for the present she did not want to be distracted from them by her love life. Juanita was greatly devoted to Our Lady of Solitude and went up to the church near the castle, where her image is venerated, to give thanks for the blessings she had already received and to fervently beseech her for the fortitude to carry out her plans, which she saw as holy and good. Nearly all the people were in the low, level part of the town. The upper part, where the castle and old church stand, was very solitary that day. Juanita prayed for a long time in the almost deserted house of worship. On leaving it she had the unpleasant surprise of running into Don Andrés, who had spied her, who had seen her make the climb, who had followed her, and who was waiting for her in the doorway. Great were the girl’s displeasure and scare. Although she believed that she had dispelled all of Don Paco’s apprehensions and inspired enough trust in him so that he would not keep an eye on her, she still feared that Don Paco would either see her in Don Andrés’s company or would learn from someone that she was in his company, and that although he might not complain about her, he could end up being offended by the obstinacy with which Don Andrés was pursuing her and break with him in a noisy way. Her displeasure and fears grew when she saw Don Andrés approach her. Then he accompanied her as she descended the hill, flirted with her with more ardor than respect, reminded her of the kisses in the anteroom, and made her the most insolent propositions. Since Don Andrés was unaware of Juanita’s agreement with the Murcian shopkeeper, he overcame his repugnance at leaving certain crimes unpunished, and, amongst other things, offered to give Juanita the eight thousand reales so that Antoñuelo would not be denounced. “I no longer need the money, Señor Don Andrés,” said Juanita. Juanita la Larga 207 208 Juanita la Larga “Don Ramón has recovered what was owed him and has promised not to say anything. Now, I beg Your Excellency to leave me and not pursue me, and not offend me by proposing what cannot be. And if Your Excellency won’t give up following me out of...