ina had been born a tiller of the earth, he
had died a grandee of Spain, ennobled yet more by his patriotism and
great qualities than he could be by the tinsel of a title; the character
of the countess was that of a high-minded and virtuous woman; and as to
the accusation of being a _santarona_, or affectedly pious, it was no
less unjust than malicious. Here is Captain Widdrington's portrait of
her:--

"Her stature is rather below the middle size, and her person stout,
with an abundance of the blackest hair simply dressed; eyes very
large, dark and fuller than usual, even in this classic land of
them, and beaming with intelligence. Her forehead, and the lower
part of her face, are remarkable for their development, and an
admirable study for the phrenologists, who would pronounce them
models, as indicating firmness of character. Her constant costume
is the deepest black, which completely covers her person; and when
she accepted her appointment, it was stipulated that she should
never be required to lay it aside. The only ornament she wore was a
simple but rather massive gold chain and cross, which had a
singularly good effect in relieving the mass of deep black; and her
manner, noble and serious, bordering on the severe at first sight,
made her the _beau-ideal_ of a lady abbess."

During the celebrated attack upon the palace at Madrid, on the 7th of
October 1841, the countess gave proof of energy, courage, and presence
of mind, worthy of Mina's widow, and of one who supplied the place of
mother to the queen and infanta of Spain. A most interesting account of
the transactions of that eventful night is to be found in the third
chapter of Captain Widdrington's book; and as he is indebted for the
details to Madame Mina herself, it is no doubt the most accurate that
has appeared before the public. The _alabarderos_, or halberdiers, who
formed the body-guard of the queen, and whose post was in the avenues
leading to the royal apartments, consisted of two hundred sergeants,
picked from the whole army, and placed under the command of a colonel
and lieutenant-colonel, who had the rank of lieutenant and sergeant in
this sacred band. "By the regulations, one-third of this little corps
ought always to have been on duty; but, 'Cosas de Espana,' when the
disturbance broke out, there were only the two officers and seventeen
privates present! The rest were in the tow