Сто лет одиночества

           Conqueredbyhiswife’senthusiasm,JoséArcadioBuendíathenlaiddownonecondition:Rebeca,whowastheonehewanted,wouldmarryPietroCrespi.úrsulawouldtakeAmarantaonatriptothecapitaloftheprovincewhenshehadtime,sothatcontactwithdifferentpeoplewouldalleviateherdisappointment.Rebecagotherhealthbackjustassoonassheheardoftheagreement,andshewroteherfiancéajubilantletterthatshesubmittedtoherparents’approvalandputintothemailwithouttheuseofanyintermediaries.Amarantapretendedtoacceptthedecisionandlittlebylittlesherecoveredfromherfevers,butshepromisedherselfthatRebecawouldmarryonlyoverherdeadbody.

           ThefollowingSaturdayJoséArcadioBuendíaputonhisdarksuit,hiscelluloidcollar,andthedeerskinbootsthathehadwornforthefirsttimethenightoftheparty,andwenttoaskforthehandofRemediosMoscote.Themagistrateandhiswifereceivedhim,pleasedandworriedatthesametime,fortheydidnotknowthereasonfortheunexpectedvisit,andthentheythoughtthathewasconfusedaboutthenameoftheintendedbride.Inordertoremovethemistake,themotherwokeRemediosupandcarriedherintothelivingroom,stilldrowsyfromsleep.Theyaskedherifitwastruethatshehaddecidedtogetmarried,andsheanswered,whimpering,thatsheonlywantedthemtolethersleep.JoséArcadioBuendía,understandingthedistressoftheMoscotes,wenttoclearthingsupwithAureliano.