"It sounds like a beggar's guitar," laughed Sinang. When the two
parties met it was the women who maintained a serious and formal
attitude, just as if they had never known how to laugh, while on the
other hand the men talked and laughed, asking six questions to get
half an answer.
"Is the lake calm? Do you think we'll have good weather?" asked
the mothers.
"Don't be alarmed, ladies, I know how to swim well," answered a tall,
thin, emaciated youth.
"We ought to have heard mass first," sighed Aunt Isabel, clasping
her hands.
"There's yet time, ma'am. Albino has been a theological student in
his day and can say it in the boat," remarked another youth, pointing
to the tall, thin one who had first spoken. The latter, who had a
clownish countenance, threw himself into an attitude of contrition,
caricaturing Padre Salvi. Ibarra, though he maintained his serious
demeanor, also joined in the merriment.
When they arrived at the beach, there involuntarily escaped from
the women exclamations of surprise and pleasure at the sight of
two large bankas fastened together and picturesquely adorned with
garlands of flowers, leaves, and ruined cotton of many colors.
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