expected
result will undergo a metamorphosis before it becomes experience, you
will not be disappointed. Only try. For instance,--every one knows the
Spanish character by heart; it is the burden of all literary
productions, which, from the commencement of time, have treated of that
country. A Carlist officer, therefore,--the hopeless martyr in the
Apostolic, aristocratic cause of divine right; the high-souled being,
rushing into the daily, deadly struggle, supported, instead of pay and
solid rations, by his fidelity to his persecuted king;--such a character
is easily figured. The theory of disappointments must here be at fault.
He is a true Spaniard; grave, reserved, dignified. His lofty presence
must impress every assembly with a certain degree of respectful awe.--I
mounted the _coupe_, or _berlina_, of the Diligence, to leave Tolosa,
with a good-looking, fair, well-fed native, with a long falling auburn
moustache. We commenced by bandying civilities as to which should hold
the door while the other ascended. No sooner were we seated than my
companion inquired whether I was military; adding, that he was a Carlist
captain of cavalry returning from a six months' emigration.

Notwithstanding the complete polish of his manners in addressing me, it
was evident he enjoyed an uncommon exuberance of spirits, even more than
the occasion could call for from the most ardent lover of his country;
and I at first concluded he must have taken the earliest opportunity (it
being four o'clock in the morning) of renewing his long-interrupted
acquaintance with the flask of _aguardiente_: but that this was not the
case was evident afterwards, from the duration of his tremendous
happiness. During the first three or four hours, his tongue gave itself
not an instant's repose. Every incident was a subject of merriment, and,
when tired of talking to me, he would open the front-window and address
the _mayoral_; then roar to the postilion, ten mules ahead; then swear
at the _zagal_ running along the road, or toss his cigar-stump at the
head of some wayfaring peasant-girl.

Sometimes, all his vocabulary being exhausted, he contented himself with
a loud laugh, long continued; then he would suddenly fall asleep, and,
after bobbing his head for five or six minutes, awake in a convulsion of
laughter, as though his dream was too merry for sleep. Whatever he said
was invariably preceded by two or three oaths, and terminated in the
same manner. The Span