At the end of the avenue
Justa took leave of her escort.
The next Sunday Justa carne to her parents' home with a girl friend
and the young man of the embroidered cloak; she introduced the young
man to Senor Custodio. Afterward she said that he was the son of a
butcher from La Corredera Alta, and to her mother Justa confessed
bashfully that the gentleman had asked permission to pay her
attentions. This phrase pay attentions, which is spoken by the
haughtiest princess and the humblest janitress with equally
lingering pleasure, enchanted the ragdealer's wife, particularly as
the gentleman in question came of a wealthy family.
In Senor Custodio's home the butcher's son was considered as the
paragon of all perfections and beauties; Manuel alone protested and
El Carnicerin (the little butcher),--as he had named him derisively
from the very first moment,--was the object of his murderous
glances.
When Manuel understood that Justa considered the butcher's son as an
ideal suitor, his sufferings were cruel. It was no longer melancholy
that moved his soul, which was now agitated by the most raging
despair.
The fellow had too many advantages over him: he was tall, graceful,
slender, flaunted a fair, budding moustache, was well-dressed, his
fingers covered with rings, an expert dancer and skilful player on
the guitar; he almost had a right to be as, content with himself as
he was.
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