y easy. It seems rather silly to make it a
regular study in our schools.

I adore the stations, especially at night,--black velvet darkness
studded with lanterns and torches and little leaping fires; old blind
minstrels whining their ballads; the mournful voices of the sweetmeat
venders chanting--"_Dulce de Morelia!_"--"_Cajeta de Celaya!_" These
candies, by the way, are the most----

_December 11th._

Alas, _muy_ Sally _mia_, when I meant to add a few paragraphs to
this letter diary every day! I was interrupted just there by Cousin
Dudley who came in with his civil engineer, and there hasn't seemed
to be any spare time since. (How is that for a demonstration of Mr.
Burroughs' well-known theory about folding your hands and waiting
and having your own come to you?)

He is an _extremely_ civil engineer and very easy to look at. He
has close-cropped, bronzy brown hair and gentian-blue eyes and his
skin is burned to a glowing copper luster. He is just idling about,
slaying time during a vacation too brief to warrant his going home to
Virginia, and he shows strong symptoms of willingness to act as
guide, philosopher and friend to wandering Touri. We are actually
going to reach Guadalajara tomorrow! Some one must be giving us a
tow.

_Adios, muy amiga mia!_

JUANA.

P.S. The C.E. is going to hear my Spanish lesson now.

P.S. II. Isn't NETZAHUALCOYOTL a cunning word?

_Guadalajara,
December 12th._

QUERIDA SARITA,

We sight-saw all morning in this lovely, languid, ladylike city, and
this afternoon we called on Cousin Dudley's friend, Professor
Morales and his family. They were expecting us and as our _coche_
drew up at the curb, the door flew open and _el profesor_ flew out,
seized Cousin Ada's hand, held it high, and led her into the house,
minuet fashion. The _senora_, a mountainous lady with a rather
striking mustache and the bosom of her black gown sprinkled with a
snow fall of powder which couldn't find even standing room on her
face, conducted Cousin Dudley in the same manner, and I fell to the
lot of a beautiful youth.

The _sala_ was crazy with what-nots and knick-knacks and bamboo
furniture and running over with people--plump, furrily powdered
_senoritas_ with young mustaches, cherubs with gazelle eyes and
weak-coffee-colored skin,