stability, should grant what is asked, then it could freely revoke the
permission when it saw that its kindness was being abused--reasons
and pretexts would not be wanting, we can watch them. Why cause
disaffection among some young men, who later on may feel resentment,
when what they ask is commanded by royal decrees?"

Padre Irene, Don Custodio, and Padre Fernandez nodded in agreement.

"But the Indians must not understand Castilian, you know," cried Padre
Camorra. "They mustn't learn it, for then they'll enter into arguments
with us, and the Indians must not argue, but obey and pay. They mustn't
try to interpret the meaning of the laws and the books, they're so
tricky and pettifogish! Just as soon as they learn Castilian they
become enemies of God and of Spain. Just read the _Tandang Basio
Macunat_--that's a book! It tells truths like this!" And he held up
his clenched fists.

Padre Sibyla rubbed his hand over his tonsure in sign of
impatience. "One word," he began in the most conciliatory tone, though
fuming with irritation, "here we're not dealing with the instruction
in Castilian alone. Here there is an underhand fight between the
students and the University of Santo Tomas. If the students win this,
our prestige will be trampled in the dirt, they will say that they've
beaten us and will exult accordingly. Then, good-by to moral strength,
good-by to everything! The first dike broken down, who will restrain
this youth? With our fall we do no more than signal your own. After
us, the government!"

"_Puñales_, that's not so!" exclaimed Padre Camorra. "We'll see first
who has the biggest fists!"