ain subjects of conversation which young girls, of
whatever country, love only to talk of between themselves, and in their
own private apartment.

Scarce had the servant closed the door behind her, than Marianita--who
had just finished placing some pomegranate flowers behind her
tortoiseshell comb--glided eagerly towards the window. On reaching it
she stood for some moments with her eyes bent inquiringly on the plain.
Gertrudis had changed her oriental posture for a seat upon a leathern
_fauteuil_. After casting back, by an indolent movement of her arms,
the dark masses of her hair, she delivered herself up to a silent
reverie.

"I have examined the plain with all my eyes," said Marianita after a
while spent at the window; "it appears entirely deserted. I cannot see
a human creature upon it, much less Don Fernando, or Don Rafael.
Santissima! I fear I have had all this trouble for nothing; in half an
hour it will be sunset."

"You need not be uneasy. Don Fernando will come," said Gertrudis, in a
calm voice.

"Ah!" exclaimed Marianita, "one might tell by the tone in which you
speak that you are not expecting your _novio_ (betrothed), as I am. My
very impatience makes me despair of seeing him. Ah! Gertrudis, you
have never experienced the emotion of love."

"Were I in your place I should feel more chagrin than impatience."

"Chagrin, oh! no; if Don Fernando don't choose to come this evening, he
will lose the pleasure of seeing me in this beautiful white dress which
he admires so much, and with these purple pomegranates in my hair, which
I put in just to please him. For my part I prefer the white blossoms of
the orange; but they say that a woman when married must make some
sacrifices, and I may as well accustom myself to them."

In saying these words the young girl snapped her fingers together till
they cracked like castanets; while her countenance, instead of
expressing any very painful emotion, exhibited an air of perfect
contentment.

Gertrudis made no answer, except by a sigh, half-suppressed. She sat
motionless, with the exception of her foot, which kept balancing upward
and downward the little slipper of blue satin, while the fresh breeze of
the evening blowing in from the window, caused a gentle tremulous
movement among the tresses of her hair.

"It's very tiresome--this country life," continued Marianita; "it's true
one can pass the day by combing out one's hair, and taking a siesta; but
in the