church only because you were my nephew."

Rosario looked anxiously at her cousin, trying to read in his
countenance, before he uttered it, the answer he would make to these
charges.

"No doubt they mistook me for some one else."

"No, no! it was you. But there, don't get angry! We are talking here
among friends and in confidence. It was you. I saw you myself."

"You saw me!"

"Just so. Will you deny that you went to look at the pictures, passing
among a group of worshippers who were hearing mass? I assure you that my
attention was so distracted by your comings and goings that--well, you
must not do it again. Then you went into the chapel of San Gregorio. At
the elevation of the Host at the high altar you did not even turn around
to make a gesture of reverence. Afterward you traversed the whole length
of the church, you went up to the tomb of the Adelantado, you touched
the altar with your hands, then you passed a second time among a group
of worshippers, attracting the notice of every one. All the girls looked
at you, and you seemed pleased at disturbing so finely the devotions of
those good people."

"Good Heavens! How many things I have done!" exclaimed Pepe, half angry,
half amused. "I am a monster, it seems, without ever having suspected
it."

"No, I am very well aware that you are a good boy," said Dona Perfecta,