by making me read to her, as
she knotted, we neither of us could help fulfilling our engagements. By
dint of bullying and beating, at last I was sufficiently enlightened to
be able to read a romance to my mistress, or answer an invitation-note
in the negative or affirmative. My mistress had two nieces who lived
with her, both nearly grown up when I entered the family. They taught me
dancing for their own amusement, as well as many other things, and by
their care I improved very much, even in reading and writing. Although a
child, I had a pleasure in being taught by two pretty girls. But it is
necessary that I should be more particular in my description of these
two young ladies. The eldest, whose name was Donna Emilia, was of a
prudent, sedate description, always cheerful, but never boisterous; she
constantly smiled, but seldom, if ever, indulged in a laugh. The
youngest, Donna Teresa, was very different--joyous and light-hearted,
frank and confiding in her temper, generous in disposition: her faults
arose from an excess of every feeling--a continual running into
extremes. Never were two sisters more fond of each other: it appeared as
if the difference between their dispositions but added to their
attachment. The serious character of the elder was roused to playfulness
by the vivacity of the younger, and the extravagance of the younger was
kept in due bounds by the prudence of the elder. As a child I liked
Donna Emilia, but I was devotedly fond of Donna Teresa.

I had been three years in this situation, when legal business required
the presence of Donna Isabella at Madrid. The young ladies, who were
both very handsome, and remarkably like each other in person, were much
admired by the cavaliers. Two had gained the victory over the rival
candidates--Don Perez was the favoured suitor of Donna Emilia, while Don
Florez was proud to wear the chains of the lively Teresa. Donna Isabella
had, however, no intention that her nieces should quit her for the
present, and aware, by the serenading which took place every night, that
there were pretenders to her nieces' smiles, she hastened back to
Seville sooner than she had intended.

Although I had not been trusted by either, I had an idea of what was
going on; but with more prudence than most boys of my age, I made no
remarks either to my mistress or to the young ladies. We had returned to
Seville about a month, when Donna Emilia called me aside, and said,
"Pedro, can you keep a se