"Yes, yes. I remember now. I left early. Pepita, we left early, did we not? But, señora, you are good enough to forgive my leaving early, yes, even in the middle of your admirable performance. I forget why we left. Pepita ... oh, some indisposition...." It was impossible that anyone in the theatre could have missed the intention of the songs. Camila could only assume that the Marquesa, out of a sort of fantastic magnanimity, was playing the farce of not having noticed it. She was almost in tears: "But you are so good to overlook my childishness, señora,--I mean Your Grace. I did not know. I did not know your goodness, señora, permit me to kiss your hand." Doña María held out her hand astonished. She had not for a long time been addressed with such consideration. Her neighbors, her tradespeople, her servants--for even Pepita lived in awe of her,--her very daughter had never approached her thus. It induced a new mood in her; one that must very likely be called maudlin. She became loquacious: "Offended, offended at you, my beautiful, ... my gifted child? Who am I, a ... an unwise and unloved old woman, to be offended at you? I felt, my daughter, as though I were--what says the poet?--_surprising through a cloud the conversation of the angels_. Your voice kept finding new wonders in our Moreto. When you said: '_Don Juan, si mi amor estimas, Y la fe segura es necia, Enojarte mis temores Es no querarme discreta. ¿Tan seguros_....' and so on,--that was true! And what a gesture you made at the close of the First Day. There, with your hand so. Such a gesture as the Virgin made, saying to Gabriel: _How is it possible that I shall have a child_? No, no, you will begin to have resentment at me, for I am going to tell you about a gesture that you may remember to use some day. Yes, it would fit well into that scene where you forgive your Don Juan de Lara. Perhaps I should tell you that I saw it made one day by my daughter. My daughter is a very beautiful woman ... everyone thinks. Did ... did you know my Doña Clara, Señora?" "Her Grace often did me the honour of visiting my theatre. I knew the Condesa well by sight."