because, every night, I go there for a little while to make up his accounts and to write a letter or two. Master Collado pays me five pesos for the class in arithmetic, which I teach in the public school; another five, the receiver of taxes, who scarcely knows how to sign his name, pays me for balancing his accounts at the end of the month; and the other five the town treasurer gives me for doing the same.”
“That is not bad; but Collado and the collector pay you a miserable price.”
“The latter, perhaps, yes; but the other, no—he receives a salary of barely twenty-five. As much as I earn.”
“Ah, well! bid farewell to Master Collado and Ajágan, and the collector and the town treasurer, and enter my employ. La Ermita is wretchedly cared for; mayorsdomos succeed one another and all rob me. You shall go to La Ermita as manager, with house and table, horses for your use, servants to do your bidding—that is to say, as master, because you will command there; the twenty-five pesos per month, which you now earn by your varied labors, will continue to be paid you and in addition fifteen per cent of the annual income of the place. I am making you not a bad offer!”1
“No, indeed, lady! I appreciate that it is more than liberal; but, I cannot accept it.”
“Why not?” asked Doña Socorro, thoroughly vexed.
“Because, I must not abandon my good aunts.”
“You need not do so. La Ermita is only three leagues from here; a mere nothing. You can come here in the evenings, Saturdays, to spend Sundays, and Mondays you are at your duties again. Finally, in case they are not satisfied, take them out to the place.”