"You probably mean, if Father Damaso had shown half the moderation of Senor Ibarra," interrupted Don Filipo. "The pity is that the roles were interchanged: the youth conducted himself like an old man, and the old man like a youth." "And you say nobody but the daughter of Captain Tiago came between them? Not a monk, nor the alcalde?" asked Captain Martin. "I wouldn't like to be in the young man's shoes. None of those who were afraid of him will ever forgive him. Hah, that's the worst of it!" "You think so?" demanded Captain Basilio, with interest. "I hope," said Don Filipo, exchanging glances with Captain Basilio, "that the pueblo isn't going to desert him. His friends at least----" "But, senores," interrupted the gobernadorcillo, "what can we do? What can the pueblo? Whatever happens, the monks are always in the right----" "They are always in the right, because we always say they're in the right. Let us say we are in the right for once, and then we shall have something to talk about!" The gobernadorcillo shook his head. "Ah, the young blood!" he said. "You don't seem to know what country you live in; you don't know your compatriots. The monks are rich; they are united; we are poor and divided. Try to defend him and you will see how you are left to compromise yourself alone!" "Yes," cried Don Filipo bitterly, "and it will be so as long as fear and prudence are supposed to be synonymous. Each thinks of himself, nobody of any one else; that is why we are weak!" "Very well! Think of others and see how soon the others will let you hang!" "I've had enough of it!" cried the exasperated lieutenant. "I shall give my resignation to the alcalde to-day." The women had still other thoughts. "Aye!" said one of them. "Young people are always the same. If his good mother were living, what would she say? When I think that my son, who is a young hothead, too, might have done the same thing----" "I'm not with you," said another woman. "I should have nothing against my two sons if they did as Don Crisostomo." "What are you saying, Capitana Maria?" cried the first woman, clasping her hands. "I'm a poor stupid," said a third, the Capitana Tinay, "but I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to tell my son not to study any more. They say men of learning all die on the gallows. Holy Mary, and my son wants to go to Europe!" "If I were rich as you, my children should travel," said the Capitana Maria. "Our sons ought to aspire to be more than their fathers. I have not long to live, and we shall meet again in the other world." "Your ideas, Capitana Maria, are little Christian," said Sister Rufa severely. "Make yourself a sister of the Sacred Rosary, or of St. Francis." "Sister Rufa, when I'm a worthy sister of men, I will think about being a sister of the saints," said the capitana, smiling. Under the booth where the children had their feast the father of the one who was to be a doctor was talking.