f
her age could not give a husband any uneasiness. Let me see: say that I
marry her; I will keep her close at home, I will train her up to my own
hand, and so fashion her to my wishes that she will never have a thought
beyond them! I am not so old but that I may yet hope to have children to
inherit my wealth. Whether she brings me any dower or not is a matter of
no consideration, since Heaven has given me enough for both, and rich
people should not look for money with a wife, but for enjoyment, for
that prolongs life, whereas jarring discontent between married people
makes it wear out faster than it would do otherwise. So be it then; the
die is cast, and this is the wife whom heaven destines me to have."

Having thus soliloquised, not once but a hundred times on that day, and
the two or three following, Carrizales had an interview with Leonora's
parents, and found that, although poor, they were persons of good birth.
He made known his intention to them, acquainted them with his condition
and fortune, and begged them very earnestly to bestow their daughter
upon him in marriage. They required time to consider his proposal, and
to give him also an opportunity to satisfy himself that their birth and
quality was such as they had stated.

The parties took leave of each other, made the necessary inquiries,
found them satisfactory on both sides, and finally Leonora was betrothed
to Carrizales, who settled upon her twenty thousand ducats, so hotly
enamoured was the jealous old bridegroom. But no sooner had he
pronounced the conjugal "yes," than he was all at once assailed by a
host of rabid fancies; he began to tremble without cause and to find his
cares and anxieties come thicker and faster upon him than ever. The
first proof he gave of his jealous temper was, in resolving that no
tailor should take measure of his betrothed for any of the many wedding
garments he intended to present her. Accordingly, he went about looking
for some other woman, who might be nearly of the same height and figure
as Leonora. He found a poor woman, who seemed suitable for his purpose,
and having had a gown made to her measure, he tried it on his betrothed,
found that it fitted well, and gave orders that it should serve as a
pattern for all the other dresses, which were so many and so rich that
the bride's parents thought themselves fortunate beyond measure, in
having obtained for themselves and their daughter a son-in-law and a
husband so nobly mun