k through the
hedge, when a harsh voice--apparently that of a man--mingled with the
silvery tones.

"_Anda!--anda!--hace mucho calor. Vamos a volver_." (Hasten!--it is
hot. Let us return.)

"_Ah, no, Pepe! un ratito mas_." (Ah, no, Pepe! a little while longer.)

"_Vaya, carrambor_!" (Quick, then!)

Again the clear laughter rang out, mingled with the clapping of hands
and short exclamations of delight.

"Come," thought I, once more entering the parterre, "as there appears to
be one of my own sex here already, it cannot be very _mal a propos_ to
take a peep at this amusement, whatever it be."

I approached the row of plantain-trees, whose leaves screened the
speakers from view.

"_Lupe! Lupe! mira! que bonito_!" (Lupe! Lupe! look here! What a
pretty thing!)

"_Ah, pobrecito! echalo, Luz, echalo_." (Ah! poor little thing! fling
it back, Luz.)

"_Voy luego_," (Presently.)

I stooped down, and silently parted the broad, silken leaves. The sight
was divine!

Within lay a circular tank, or basin, of crystal water, several rods in
diameter, and walled in on all sides by the high screen of glossy
plantains, whose giant leaves, stretching out horizontally, sheltered it
from the rays of the sun.

A low parapet of mason-work ran around, forming the circumference of the
circle. This was japanned with a species of porcelain, whose deep
colouring of blue and green and yellow was displayed in a variety of
grotesque figures.

A strong jet boiled up in the centre, by the refraction of whose ripples
the gold and red fish seemed multiplied into myriads.

At a distant point a bed of water-lilies hung out from the parapet; and
the long, thin neck of a swan rose gracefully over the leaves. Another,
his mate, stood upon the bank drying her snowy pinions in the sun.

A different object attracted me, depriving me, for awhile, of the power
of action.

In the water, and near the jet, were two beautiful girls clothed in a
sort of sleeveless, green tunic, loosely girdled. They were immersed to
the waist. So pellucid was the water that their little feet were
distinctly visible at the bottom, shining like gold.

Luxuriant hair fell down in broad flakes, partially shrouding the snowy
development of their arms and shoulders. Their forms were strikingly
similar--tall, graceful, fully developed, and characterised by that
elliptical line of beauty that, in the female form more than in any
other earthly object, illust