"Here, grandma, here," returned the child, coming out of her mother's room.
She was a little creature, not yet three years old, with sunny golden hair, and so spontaneous in her baby talk that her grandmother quite adored her.
"What have you got for me, grandma? What have you got for me?" she asked, looking eagerly at Doña Paula, after having nearly knocked her over in the impetuous way she caught her by the legs.
"The doll, my child, with its new frock."
"No doll--the doll for Lalina--I'se big--I want chocolate."
"I have no chocolate here, my darling," replied the grandmother, looking lovingly at the child.
"Mama has chocolates--come and give me one."
And the little girl dragged her grandmother by the dress to her mother's room. On entering it the child seemed surprised, and looked about everywhere, while Ventura came forward and embraced her mother affectionately.
"My goodness! what a surprise! whatever brought you here? I don't know that it is good for you to come upstairs like this. Do you feel all right?"
"I am not very tired. I think I am better. Dehand's pills seem to do me good."
"That's right. I am glad we have at last hit upon a medicine that does some good. Won't you sit down?"
"Grandma, give me a chocolate," said the child, interrupting them.
"I haven't any, my dear. Have you any caramels, Ventura?"
"Nobody, nobody; some nonsense. Well, these pills suit you, then? Suppose Don Rufo heard of it. Suppose he heard of it!" Ventura repeated in such a trembling voice and looking so confused that her mother gazed at her in astonishment.
"Jaime is here--he has chocolate; come and see, grandma."
Whereupon the child dragged Doña Paula by the dress, and the lady, vaguely apprehending something terrible, let herself be led without knowing what she was doing.
"Cecilia!" cried Ventura in a voice unlike that ever heard by her mother.
However, the child paid no heed, and went on dragging her grandmother toward the bedroom. But before they reached the door the Duke of Tornos appeared on the threshold.
At the sight of the sudden apparition Doña Paula stood rooted to the spot, with her face white and terrified and her eyes staring in amazement. Then she fell heavily to the floor, dragging the child with her.