"And it is thanks to us alone," interrupted Dona Victorina, "that Clarita is not already in heaven singing praises with the angels." "Amen!" Captain Tiago felt moved to say. "I think I know whereof I speak," said the curate, "when I say that the confession of Maria Clara brought about the favorable crisis that saved her life. I do not deny the power of science, but a pure conscience----" "Pardon," objected Dona Victorina, piqued; "then cure the wife of the alferez with a confession!" "A hurt, senora, is not a malady, to be influenced by the conscience," replied Father Salvi severely; "but a good confession would preserve her in future from such blows as she got this morning." "She deserved them!" said Dona Victorina. "She is an insolent woman. In church she did nothing but look at me. I had a mind to ask her what there was curious about my face; but who would soil her lips speaking to these people of no standing?" The curate, as if he had not heard this tirade, continued: "To finish the cure of your daughter, she should receive the communion to-morrow, Don Santiago. I think she does not need to confess, and yet, if she will once more, this evening----" "I don't know," said Dona Victorina, profiting by the pause to continue her reflections, "I don't understand how men can marry such frights. One easily sees where that woman came from. She is dying of envy, that shows in her eyes. What does an alferez get?" "So prepare Maria for confession," the curate continued, turning to Aunt Isabel. The good aunt left the group and went to her niece's room. Maria Clara was still in bed, and pale, very pale; beside her were her two friends. Sinang was giving her her medicine. "He has not written to you again?" asked Maria, softly. "No." "He gave you no message for me?" "No; he only said he was going to make every effort to have the archbishop raise the ban of excommunication----" The arrival of Aunt Isabel interrupted the conversation. "The father says you are to prepare yourself for confession, my child," said she. "Sinang, leave her to examine her conscience. Shall I bring you the 'Anchor,' the 'Bouquet,' or the 'Straight Road to Heaven,' Maria?" Maria Clara did not reply. "Well, we mustn't fatigue you," said the good aunt consolingly; "I will read you the examination myself, and you will only have to remember your sins." "Write him to think of me no more," murmured the sick girl in Sinang's ear. "What!" But Aunt Isabel came back with her book, and Sinang had to go. The good aunt drew her chair up to the light, settled her glasses on the tip of her nose, and opened a little book. "Give good attention, my child: I will begin with the commandments of God; I shall go slowly, so that you may meditate: if you don't hear well, you must tell me, and I will repeat; you know I'm never weary of working for your good."