lightness. All Seville was on foot, no
carriages are permitted in the street during the holy week. Poor and
rich were, for the time, on a perfect level, and each came forth well
dressed and radiant, to honor the most interesting spectacle known to
the nation. It was like looking down on an out door opera when we
entered the queint stone balcony reserved for us, with fresh palm leaves
interwoven in the carved work, and cushioned chairs waiting for our
occupation. No flower garden was ever more radiant and blooming.
Hundreds of colored parasols swayed towards the sun like mammoth
poppies, gay fans kept the air in perpetual motion. Pretty white hands
twinkled recognition from friend to friend; floating lace gave a
cloud-like softness to the whole scene, indescribably beautiful. All was
eagerness and gay commotion. On the outskirts of the square, horsemen
with arms at their sides, were stationed like statues. The balconies
were hung with gorgeously tinted draperies, crowded with beautiful women
and garlanded with flowers.

"One balcony, more spacious than the rest, was richly ornamented with
draperies of crimson velvet falling from a gilded crown over head, and
drawn back by cords of heavy bullion. A flight of steps led to this
balcony from the street, and altogether it had a look of regal
magnificence which drew the general attention that way.

"While we were occupied with this novel scene, a hum and murmur of
voices drew the general attention toward one of the principal streets
entering the square. This was followed by a general commotion in the
crowd, through which a murmur, like that of hiving bees, ran to and fro;
ladies stood up, parasols swayed confusedly, expectation was in every
face.

"Directly the cause of all this excitement became apparent. The Infanta
had entered the square, and was approaching the royal balcony. She was a
lovely woman, very young and in the full bloom of her beauty, dark-eyed,
dark-haired, well formed, and carrying herself with queenly dignity,
which it is said the sovereign herself does not equal. The slanting
sunbeams fell directly upon her as she passed by our balcony in full
state; the train of her dress, blue as the sky, and looped with clusters
of pink roses, was carried by four noblemen, all richly attired, as if
the street had been some palace hall. Her dress was looped back at the
shoulders with aigrette of diamonds, whose pendent sparks dropped half
way to the elbow, quivering l