"Rosario, dear cousin, thanks for allowing me to see you!" he exclaimed,
embracing her ardently.

He felt the girl's cold fingers on his lips, imposing silence. He kissed
them rapturously.

"You are frozen. Rosario, why do you tremble so?"

Her teeth were chattering, and her whole frame trembled convulsively.
Rey felt the burning heat of his cousin's face against his own, and he
cried in alarm:

"Your forehead is burning! You are feverish."

"Very."

"Are you really ill?"

"Yes."

"And you have left your room----"

"To see you."

The engineer wrapped his arms around her to protect her from the cold,
but it was not enough.

"Wait," he said quickly, rising. "I am going to my room to bring my
travelling rug."