around to see that they were entirely alone; then approached, saying in
Portuguese:

"Don't begin that, Lopez. You must listen to me first."

"Must I?" he asked, kindly.

"If you don't choose to do it, I can go!" she answered, angrily. "To be
sure, sitting still is more comfortable than running."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Do you suppose yonder books are the walls of Zion? Do you feel inclined
to make the monks' acquaintance once more?"

"Fie, fie, Rahel, listening again? Go into the kitchen!"

"Directly! Directly! But I will speak first. You pretend, that you are
only staying here to please your wife, but it's no such thing. It's
yonder writing that keeps you. I know life, but you and your wife are
just like two children. Evil is forgotten in the twinkling of an eye,
and blessing is to come straight from Heaven, like quails and manna.
What sort of a creature have your books made you, since you came with the
doctor's hat from Coimbra? Then everybody said: 'Lopez, Senor Lopez.
Heavenly Father, what a shining light he'll be!' And now! The Lord have
mercy on us! You work, work, and what does it bring you? Not an egg;
not a rush! Go to your uncle in the Netherlands. He'll forget the
curse, if you submit! How many of the zechins, your father saved, are
still left?"