e of the ladies and make himself known, while here it
was for his own pleasure or to bring to mind happy days or events.

When he came home in the afternoon an hour before dinner, he was fond of
sitting by his cousin's side, with the guitar on his knees, and singing
his whole repertoire, not only of classic songs, but also of the
serenades,[17] _habaneras_, and polkas of his earlier days. Julia
recalled some that he had forgotten, and whenever this happened he
clapped his hands with delight, and enthusiastically praised his
cousin's memory.

She was in her element those days; she had some one to talk with, and
she was amused a large part of the day in looking out for the visitor's
wants, superintending the ironing of his linen, and seeing that his room
was kept neat and clean, and in inspecting with childish curiosity his
belongings; and then she heard herself constantly called all sorts of
pet adjectives.[18] And what young girl on the face of the earth would
not enjoy this? Don Alfonso had certainly remarkable gifts in the way of
giving compliments without repeating himself, and without descending to
eternal vulgarities, and he was very skilful in finding occasion to say
something pleasant about the maiden's charms.... Now it was her hands:
"pretty enough to eat"; now it was her teeth: "abroad very few such
splendid ones were to be seen"; again, it was her jet-black hair: "I am
tired of seeing nothing but tow on women's heads."

Without noticing it, the girl began to wait impatiently afternoons for
her cousin's coming, and if anything delayed him, she would keep jumping
up from her seat, and then coming back to it again without any reason.

It was during these days that our droll friend Utrilla wrote those
famous letters mentioned in the last chapter.

One afternoon as Saavedra came in, Julia happened to be passing through
the vestibule; she affected to go in front of him without greeting him,
but suddenly twitched the end of his cravat, and untied it.

"Hold on there, you little witch! Now come and tie it for me again!"

But Julia was already out of sight, laughing. Don Alfonso followed her;
he overtook her in the dining-room; when the girl saw him, she started
to run again, and went to the kitchen.

"You won't escape me that way!" cried Saavedra.

"Yes I shall too," retorted the girl, again vanishing from sight.

Both ran along the corridor, but when they were near the parlor, Julia
turned around, and goin