Guided Reading
Read the story in short parts. After each part, answer a question to check your understanding.
Part 1: An Invitation and a Wedding Scene
| I was invited to the wedding of Micaelita Aránguiz and Bernardo de Meneses,
but I could not go. The next day, I heard something shocking. The wedding was ready to begin in Micaelita’s house. The guests were there, the bishop was present, and the bride and groom were standing at the altar. |
Part 2: The Unexpected Answer
| When the bishop asked Micaelita if she accepted Bernardo as her husband,
she answered clearly and strongly, “No.” The bishop asked again, surprised, and she said “No” again. After a long and uncomfortable moment, the groom had to leave, and the wedding ended at once. |
Part 3: A Perfect but Unusual Wedding
| People talked about it everywhere.
Such things sometimes happen, but this case felt unusual. The guests were elegant and well-dressed. The women wore beautiful dresses and jewelry. The men wore formal clothes and medals. The house was decorated with white flowers, and the altar was full of roses. |
Part 4: No One Knows the Reason
| Everything looked perfect. Until that moment, no one had noticed any problem.
The bride looked happy, and the groom seemed proud and calm. For a long time, no one knew the reason for Micaelita’s answer. She only said she had changed her mind and that she was free to decide until she said “yes.” |
Part 5: A Mystery and a Confession
| People guessed many things, but nothing was certain.
Three years later, I met her in a hotel where her mother was staying. We became close, and one afternoon she told me the truth. She said I could share it because no one would believe it. She explained that she truly liked Bernardo and thought she loved him. Some people said he had a bad temper, but with her he was always polite and gentle. |
Part 6: The Lace and the First Sign
| She tried to see his true character, but she could not.
On the day of the wedding, while getting dressed, she admired the lace on her white dress. It was an old and beautiful lace, a gift from Bernardo. He often talked about its value, which bothered her a little. As she walked to meet him before the ceremony, the lace caught on a piece of metal at the door and tore. She heard the sound and saw the damage. |
Part 7: The True Face
| At the same moment, she saw Bernardo’s face.
His expression changed suddenly. His eyes were full of anger, and his mouth opened as if he wanted to shout. He did not speak because people were around, but in that second, she understood everything. She realized that this was his true nature. The polite man disappeared, and she saw a violent and cruel person. Inside her, all happiness ended. |
Part 8: The Final Decision
| She went to the altar, knelt, and listened,
but when the bishop asked the question, the truth came out by itself. She said “No” without thinking. She never explained the real reason because it was too simple. People always expect big and dramatic causes. But sometimes a small moment shows a whole life. |