"It is only this," continued Dona Perfecta, "that when you visit our
beautiful cathedral again, you will endeavor to behave with a little
more decorum while you are in it."

"Why, what have I done?"

"It does not surprise me that you are not yourself aware of your fault,"
said his aunt, with apparent good humor. "It is only natural; accustomed
as you are to enter athenaeums and clubs, and academies and congresses
without any ceremony, you think that you can enter a temple in which the
Divine Majesty is in the same manner."

"But excuse me, senora," said Pepe gravely, "I entered the cathedral
with the greatest decorum."

"But I am not scolding you, man; I am not scolding you. If you take it
in that way I shall have to remain silent. Excuse my nephew, gentlemen.
A little carelessness, a little heedlessness on his part is not to be
wondered at. How many years is it since you set foot in a sacred place
before?"

"Senora, I assure you----But, in short, let my religious ideas be what
they may, I am in the habit of observing the utmost decorum in church."

"What I assure you is----There, if you are going to be offended I won't
go on. What I assure you is that a great many people noticed it this
morning. The Senores de Gonzalez, Dona Robustiana, Serafinita--in short,
when I tell you that you attracted the attention of the bishop----His
lordship complained to me about it this afternoon when I was at my
cousin's. He told me that he did not order you to be put out of the