mpany rose and flocked round the bride and
bridegroom, who stood together before the priest, doing penance each
with a long wax-light in the right hand, held in a muslin handkerchief.

The ceremony lasts about ten minutes without any change of posture. The
priest departs to unrobe; the miserable bride and blushing bridegroom
receive felicitations; and all resume their seats, and look at each
other.

Presently chocolate was handed round, and an attempt at conversational
murmur commenced, afterwards ices. And now the minister took a formal
leave of the company, after complimenting the bride. Two or three other
holy men, obedient to the signal, carried out their interminable hats
before them: when a sudden revolution broke out. At the closing of the
door on the hindmost ecclesiastic the bridegroom rushed to the altar,
and grasping with one hand the crucifix, and with the other two of the
candlesticks, ran to the apartment that had assumed the character of
vestry, and deposited them there, followed by officious friends bearing
the remaining articles, until every awe-compelling symbol had
disappeared. One or two guitars were extracted from their hiding-places
under sofas, and sent forth careless but lively preludes. The men stood
up and circulated; the women talked and laughed; a quadrille was
speedily formed, and concluded; waltzing followed, and forfeits, and
whatever you like, and--"the arrangements were on a scale of costly
magnificence, and the festivities were prolonged, &c."

But these events are rare in Toledo. The every-day amusements consist in
an infamous theatre, and the promenade; this is only on Saints' days;
but these are almost every day. On six or seven occasions in the year,
these promenades are absolute events, and much looked forward to. It is
necessary to inquire which is the promenade patronised by the saint of
the great day, whoever he is, and take your place in the tide, for no
one absents himself.

Dresses for these celebrations are things pre-meditated; and the effect
produced, and all the little events and rencontres of the day form for
each belle, thrilling subjects of retrospection. _Mantillas_ may be
trimmed, and innocent plots woven for these occasions, without danger of
disappointment by clouds or storms; and instead of the Virgin being
implored that the sun may shine, who never disappoints them, she is
sometimes requested to inspire some ruse for a momentary escape from his
too searching