gibes, senora Gallega," cried her master; "do your work,
and don't meddle with the men-servants, or I'll baste you with a stick."

"Oh, to be sure!" replied the Gallician damsel; "a'nt they dainty dears
to make a body's mouth water? I'm sure master has never known me so
frolicksome with the chaps in the house, nor yet out of it, that he
should have such an opinion of me. The blackguards go away when they
take it into their heads, without our giving them any occasion. Very
like indeed they're the right sort to be in need of any one's putting
them to bidding their masters an early good morning, when they least
expect it."

"You've a deal to say for yourself, my friend," said the landlord; "shut
your mouth and mind your business."

While this colloquy was going on Carriazo had harnessed the ass, jumped
on his back, and set off to the river, leaving Avendano highly delighted
at witnessing his jovial resolution.

Here then, we have Avendano and Carriazo changed, God save the mark!
into Tomas Pedro, a hostler, and Lope Asturiano, a water-carrier:
transformations surpassing those of the long-nosed poet. No sooner had
la Argueello heard that they were hired, than she formed a design upon
Asturiano, and marked him for her own, resolving to regale him in such a
manner, that, if he was ever so shy, she would make him as pliant as a
glove. The prudish Gallegan formed a similar design upon Avendano, and,
as the two women were great friends, being much together in their
business by day, and bed-fellows at night, they at once confided their
amorous purposes to each other; and that night they determined to begin
the conquest of their two unimpassioned swains. Moreover they agreed
that they must, in the first place, beg them not to be jealous about
anything they might see them do with their persons; for girls could
hardly regale their friends within doors, unless they put those without
under contribution. "Hold your tongues, lads," said they, apostrophising
their absent lovers, "hold your tongues and shut your eyes; leave the
timbrel in the hands that can play it, and let those lead the dance that
know how, and no pair of canons in this city will be better regaled than
you will be by our two selves."

While the Gallegan and la Argueello were settling matters in this way,
our good friend, Lope Asturiano, was on his way to the river, musing
upon his beloved tunny fisheries and on his sudden change of condition.
Whether it was for th