Сто лет одиночества

           Whenhereturned,theMoscoteshadputonformalclothing,hadrearrangedthefurnitureputfreshflowersinthevases,andwerewaitinginthecompanyoftheirolderdaughters.Overwhelmedbytheunpleasantnessoftheoccasionandthebothersomehardcollar,JoséArcadioBuendíaconfirmedthefactthatRemedios,indeed,wasthechosenone."Itdoesn’tmakesense,"DonApolinarMoscotesaidwithconsternation."Wehavesixotherdaughters,allunmarried,andatanagewheretheydeserveit,whowouldbedelightedtobethehonorablewifeofagentlemanasseriousandhardworkingasyourson,andAurelitolayshiseyespreciselyontheonewhostillwetsherbed."Hiswife,awell-preservedwomanwithafflictedeyelidsandexpression,scoldedhismistake.Whentheyfinishedthefruitpunch,theywillinglyacceptedAureliano’sdecision.ExceptthatSe?oraMoscotebeggedthefavorofspeakingtoúrsulaalone.Intrigued,protestingthattheywereinvolvingherinmen’saffairs,butreallyfeelingdeepemotion,úrsulawenttovisitherthenextday.AhalfhourlatershereturnedwiththenewsthatRemedioshadnotreachedpuberty.Aurelianodidnotconsiderthataseriousbarrier.Hehadwaitedsolongthathecouldwaitaslongaswasnecessaryuntilhisbridereachedtheageofconception.

           ThenewfoundharmonywasinterruptedbythedeathofMelquíades.Althoughitwasaforeseeableevent,thecircumstanceswerenot.