Avellanos, in the valley of Darro. It is one of the popular resorts
of Granada, and has been so since the days of the Moors; and here
the student had an opportunity of pursuing his studies of female
beauty; a branch of study to which he was a little prone.

"Here he would take his seat with his guitar, improvise
love-ditties to admiring groups of majos and majas, or prompt with
his music the ever-ready dance. He was thus engaged one evening
when he beheld a padre of the church advancing, at whose approach
every one touched the hat. He was evidently a man of consequence;
he certainly was a mirror of good if not of holy living; robust and
rosy-faced, and breathing at every pore with the warmth of the
weather and the exercise of the walk. As he passed along he would
every now and then draw a maravedi out of his pocket and bestow it
on a beggar, with an air of signal beneficence. 'Ah, the blessed
father!' would be the cry; 'long life to him, and may he soon be a
bishop!'

"To aid his steps in ascending the hill he leaned gently now and
then on the arm of a handmaid, evidently the pet-lamb of this
kindest of pastors. Ah, such a damsel! Andalus from head to foot;
from the rose in her hair, to the fairy shoe and lacework stocking;
Andalus in every movement; in every undulation of the body:--ripe,
melting Andalus! But then so modest!--so shy!--ever, with downcast
eyes, listening to the words of the padre; or, if by chance she let
flash a side glance, it was suddenly checked and her eyes once more
cast to the ground.

"The good padre looked benignantly on the company about the
fountain, and took his seat with some emphasis on a stone bench,
while the handmaid hastened to bring him a glass of sparkling
water. He sipped it deliberately and with a relish, tempering it
with one of those spongy pieces of frosted eggs and sugar so dear
to Spanish epicures, and on returning the glass to the hand of the
damsel pinched her cheek with infinite loving-kindness.

"'Ah, the good pastor!' whispered the student to himself; 'what a
happiness would it be to be gathered into his fold with such a
pet-lamb for a companion!'

"But no such good fare was likely to befall him. In vain he essayed
those powers of pleasing which he had found so irresistible with
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