nt or gentleman in
dress-coat, except the _padrino_, who had one on, though it was the
worse for wear, to be sure. On the other hand, the worthy women who were
present, and the handsome young _chulas_, showed in their dress a
picturesque magnificence very pleasant to see,--rich mantles of
_burate_, brocaded in a thousand colors, and reaching almost to the
floor; over that lace or plush mantillas, unlimited shoes of patent
leather; in their ears huge pearl pendants; on their fingers enormous
diamond rings. The arrangement of the hair was in almost all cases the
same--parted in the middle, the hair on the crown bunched up behind, and
little corkscrew curls at the temples.

The men for the most part wore a short coat and narrow-brimmed hat; but
there were quite a number of _toreros_, friends, all of them, of the
bridegroom; and they wore well-girdled jackets of velvet or broadcloth,
according to their standing in the art, tight-fitting pantaloons, and
embroidered shirts with huge brilliants in the bosom.

Miguel was the only member of the family that graced the occasion.
Julita, who had been told of it by her brother, wanted to go, but her
mother forbade it. Enrique likewise did not invite his friends in his
own rank of society, for the reason that he gave Maximina; that is,
because he did not want to mortify them.

When Miguel's wife made her appearance, a murmur of respect and
admiration went round among the guests; some among them were polite
enough to take off their hats. Manolita, who, be it said
parenthetically, was exquisite in her black merino dress and velvet
mantilla, when she saw her come in, was as confused as though it had
been the queen, and went to meet her, trembling and with her face
aflame.

"Senorita.... I am much obliged.... How do you do?"

"But," our readers will say, "have we not insisted that Manolita was a
bold and redoubtable _chula_, if there are such?"

Now then, you shall see; the majority of these _chulas_ are really, to
use the vulgar expression, 'unfortunates'; their exterior is the only
terrible thing about them.

The strange thing in this case was that Maximina was as confused and
flushed as Manolita was. Instead of having a haughty look or affecting a
condescending expression as many ladies would have done to find herself
among a set of plebeians, our little matron acted as though she were
just making her appearance in an assembly of princes.

The procession started on its march