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airy as that of an Hamadryad。 Her bosom was carefully veiled。
Her dress was white； it was fastened by a blue sash； and just
permitted to peep out from under it a little foot of the most
delicate proportions。 A chaplet of large grains hung upon her
arm； and her face was covered with a veil of thick black gauze。
Such was the female； to whom the youngest of the Cavaliers now
offered his seat； while the other thought it necessary to pay the
same attention to her companion。
The old Lady with many expressions of gratitude； but without much
difficulty； accepted the offer； and seated herself： The young
one followed her example； but made no other compliment than a
simple and graceful reverence。 Don Lorenzo （such was the
Cavalier's name； whose seat She had accepted） placed himself near
her； But first He whispered a few words in his Friend's ear； who
immediately took the hint； and endeavoured to draw off the old
Woman's attention from her lovely charge。
'You are doubtless lately arrived at Madrid；' said Lorenzo to his
fair Neighbour； 'It is impossible that such charms should have
long remained unobserved； and had not this been your first public
appearance； the envy of the Women and adoration of the Men would
have rendered you already sufficiently remarkable。'
He paused； in expectation of an answer。 As his speech did not
absolutely require one； the Lady did not open her lips： After a
few moments He resumed his discourse：
'Am I wrong in supposing you to be a Stranger to Madrid？'
The Lady hesitated； and at last； in so low a voice as to be
scarcely intelligible； She made shift to answer； 'No； Segnor。'
'Do you intend making a stay of any length？'
'Yes； Segnor。'
'I should esteem myself fortunate； were it in my power to
contribute to making your abode agreeable。 I am well known at
Madrid； and my Family has some interest at Court。 If I can be of
any service； you cannot honour or oblige me more than by
permitting me to be of use to you。''Surely；' said He to
himself； 'She cannot answer that by a monosyllable； now She must
say something to me。'
Lorenzo was deceived； for the Lady answered only by a bow。
By this time He had discovered that his Neighbour was not very
conversible； But whether her silence proceeded from pride；
discretion； timidity； or idiotism； He was still unable to decide。
After a pause of some minutes'It is certainly from your being a
Stranger；' said He； 'and as yet unacquainted with our customs；
that you continue to wear your veil。 Permit me to remove it。'
At the same time He advanced his hand towards the Gauze： The
Lady raised hers to prevent him。
'I never unveil in public； Segnor。'
'And where is the harm； I pray you？' interrupted her Companion
somewhat sharply； 'Do not you see that the other Ladies have all
laid their veils aside； to do honour no doubt to the holy place
in which we are？ I have taken off mine already； and surely if I
expose my features to general observation； you have no cause to
put yourself in such a wonderful alarm！ Blessed Maria！ Here is a
fuss and a bustle about a chit's face！ Come； come； Child！
Uncover it； I warrant you that nobody will run away with it from
you'
'Dear aunt； it is not the custom in Murcia。'
'Murcia； indeed！ Holy St。 Barbara； what does that signify？ You
are always putting me in mind of that villainous Province。 If it
is the custom in Madrid； that is all that we ought to mind； and
therefore I desire you to take off your veil immediately。 Obey
me this moment Antonia； for you know that I cannot bear
contradiction'
Her niece was silent； but made no further opposition to Don
Lorenzo's efforts； who； armed with the Aunt's sanction hastened
to remove the Gauze。 What a Seraph's head presented itself to
his admiration！ Yet it was rather bewitching than beautiful； It
wasnot so lovely from regularity of features as from sweetness
and sensibility of Countenance。 The several parts of her face
considered separately； many of them were far from handsome； but
when examined together； the whole was adorable。 Her skin though
fair was not entirely without freckles； Her eyes were not very
large； nor their lashes particularly long。 But then her lips
were of the most rosy freshness； Her fair and undulating hair；
confined by a simple ribband； poured itself below her waist in a
profusion of ringlets； Her throat was full and beautiful in the
extreme； Her hand and arm were formed with the most perfect
symmetry； Her mild blue eyes seemed an heaven of sweetness； and
the crystal in which they moved sparkled with all the brilliance
of Diamonds： She appeared to be scarcely fifteen； An arch smile；
playing round her mouth； declared her to be possessed of
liveliness； which excess of timidity at present represt； She
looked round her with a bashful glance； and whenever her eyes
accidentally met Lorenzo's； She dropt them hastily upon her
Rosary； Her cheek was immediately suffused with blushes； and She
began to tell her beads； though her manner evidently showed that
She knew not what She was about。
Lorenzo gazed upon her with mingled surprise and admiration； but
the Aunt thought it necessary to apologize for Antonia's
mauvaise honte。
' 'Tis a young Creature；' said She； 'who is totally ignorant of
the world。 She has been brought up in an old Castle in Murcia；
with no other Society than her Mother's； who； God help her！ has
no more sense； good Soul； than is necessary to carry her Soup to
her mouth。 Yet She is my own Sister； both by Father and Mother。'
'And has so little sense？' said Don Christoval with feigned
astonishment； 'How very Extraordinary！'
'Very true； Segnor； Is it not strange？ However； such is the
fact； and yet only to see the luck of some people！ A young
Nobleman； of the very first quality； took it into his head that
Elvira had some pretensions to BeautyAs to pretensions； in
truth； She had always enough of THEM； But as to Beauty。 。 。 。！
If I had only taken half the pains to set myself off which She
did。 。 。 。！ But this is neither here nor there。 As I was
saying； Segnor； a young Nobleman fell in love with her； and
married her unknown to his Father。 Their union remained a secret
near three years； But at last it came to the ears of the old
Marquis； who； as you may well suppose； was not much pleased with
the intelligence。 Away He posted in all haste to Cordova；
determined to seize Elvira； and send her away to some place or
other； where She would never be heard of more。 Holy St。 Paul！
How He stormed on finding that She had escaped him； had joined
her Husband； and that they had embarked together for the Indies。
He swore at us all； as if the Evil Spirit had possessed him； He
threw my Father into prison； as honest a painstaking Shoe…maker
as any in Cordova； and when He went away； He had the cruelty to
take from us my Sister's little Boy； then scarcely two years old；
and whom in the abruptness of her flight； She had been obliged to
leave behind her。 I suppose； that the poor little Wretch met
with bitter bad treatment from him； for in a few months after； we
received intelligence of his death。'
'Why； this was a most terrible old Fellow； Segnora！'
'Oh！ shocking！ and a Man so totally devoid of taste！ Why； would
you believe it； Segnor？ When I attempted to pacify him； He
cursed me for a Witch； and wished that to punish the Count； my
Sister might become as ugly as myself！ Ugly indeed！ I like him
for that。'
'Ridiculous'； cried Don Christoval； 'Doubtless the Count would
have thought himself fortunate； had he been permitted to exchange
the one Sister for the other。'
'Oh！ Christ！ Segnor； you are really too polite。 However； I am
heartily glad that the Conde was of a different way of thinking。
A mighty pretty piece of business； to be sure； Elvira has made of
it！ After broiling and stewing in the Indies for thirteen long
years； her Husband dies； and She returns to Spain； without an
House to hide her head； or money to procure her one！ This
Antonia was then but an Infant； and her only remaining Child。
She found that her Father…in…Law had married again； that he was
irreconcileable to the Conde； and that his second Wife had
produ