" Juana was half distracted at this speech; and
running to the next house, bribed a neighbour's child by the promise of
a broad-brimmed straw hat, to shade his complexion from the sun, to run
for Doctor Pedrillo. Pedro soon arrived, and was evidently more puzzled
respecting his deportment than the case of his patient. Sundry "nods,
and becks, and wreathed smiles," and sundry eloquent glances of his
bright black eyes, were covertly bestowed upon his _fair_ cousin; anon,
with ludicrous solemnity, he felt the pulse of Perez, shook his head,
and, in short, imitated with inimitable exactness all the technical
airs and graces of a regular graduate of Salamanca.--"Cousin," cried he
at length, with a sly look at Juana, "I pity your plight--from my soul I
do; but your case is, I am grieved to say, desperate, unless I am
informed of the _cause_ of these monstrous weals, bruises, slashes, and
chafings, in order that my prescription, may--"--"The _cause_ of them,"
said Perez, almost frightened to death, "is, having to my cost a _saint_
of a wife."--"How! that a _misfortune?_ explain yourself, my poor
fellow."--"Readily," replied Donilla, "if that will help to heal
me."--He then explained minutely the circumstances of the case,
concluding thus:--"Not but what I am, after all, remarkably indebted to
Juana, for had she only called the eleven thousand Virgins to her
assistance, their zeal would undoubtedly have divided my body amongst
them; since, then, my wife has such friends in heaven; I shall
henceforth be careful how I enrage them again.
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