rmed, on inquiry, that she was _una beata_; and being still in
the dark, my informant related her story. He commenced by the inquiry,
whether I had heard of a young man being drowned four months previously
in the Tagus. I replied that I had heard of thirty or forty; for he
referred to the bathing season, during which, as the river is sown with
pits and precipices, and unprovided with humane societies, accidents
occur every day. He then named the victim, of whose death I had in fact
heard. He was a youth of the age of twenty, and the _novio_ (intended)
of the young lady in black. On hearing suddenly, and without
preparation, the fatal news, she had been seized with a profuse vomiting
of blood, and had continued dangerously ill during several weeks. She
was now convalescent, and had made her appearance in society for the
first time.

My informant added, on my repeating the inquiry respecting the costume,
that it is the custom for a young lady, on recovering from a serious
illness, to offer herself to the _Virgen de los dolores_; the external
sign of the vow consisting in the adoption of a dress similar to that
worn by the Virgin in the churches. The obligation assumed lasts
generally during a year; although some retain the dress for the
remainder of their life. Examples are known of this practice among the
other sex; in which case the costume is that of a Franciscan friar; but
the _beato_ becomes the object of ridicule.

Among the forms of society to which especial importance is attached are
the ceremonies and duration of mourning for relations. The friends of
the nearest relative,--especially if a lady,--of a person newly
deceased, assemble day after day for a considerable time in her house.
All are in full dress of deep mourning; and the victim of sorrow and
society is expected to maintain a continual outpouring of sighs and
tears, while she listens to each consoler in turn. Much importance is
attached to the display of the usual appearances of grief, even when the
circumstances of the case do not necessarily call for it. Happening to
enter a house in which news had been received of the death of a
relative, who resided in another part of Spain, I found the lady of the
house discussing with a friend the form of her new mourning dress.

Struck by the melancholy expression of her countenance, and the redness
of her eyes, I inquired whether any bad news had been received. My
question gave rise to a renewed flood of tears;