eighteen, she was not disfigured by even this overloaded dress.
Her mother, on the contrary, who was to act the part of Madrina,
who wore a dress facsimile, and who was pale and sad, her eyes
almost extinguished with weeping, looked like a picture of Misery
in a ball-dress. In the adjoining room long tables were laid out,
on which servants were placing refreshments for the fete about to
be given on this joyous occasion. I felt somewhat shocked, and
inclined to say with Paul Pry, 'Hope I don't intrude.'

"----, however, was furious at the whole affair, which he said
was entirely against the mother's consent, though that of the
father had been obtained; and pointed out to me the confessor
whose influence had brought it about. The girl herself was now
very pale, but evidently resolved to conceal her agitation, and
the mother seemed as if she could shed no more tears--quite
exhausted with weeping. As the hour for the ceremony drew near,
the whole party became more grave and sad, all but the priests,
who were smiling and talking together in groups. The girl was not
still a moment. She kept walking hastily through the house,
taking leave of the servants, and naming, probably, her last
wishes about every thing. She was followed by her younger
sisters, all in tears.

"But it struck six, and the priests intimated that it was time to
move. She and her mother went down stairs alone, and entered the
carriage which was to drive them through all the principal
streets, to show the nun to the public, according to custom, and
to let them take their last look, they of her and she of them. As
they got in, we all crowded to the balconies to see her take
leave of her house, her aunts saying, 'Yes, child, _despidete
de tu casa_, take leave of your house, for you will never see
it again!' Then came sobs from the sisters; and many of the
gentlemen, ashamed of their emotion, hastily quitted the room. I
hope, for the sake of humanity, I did not rightly interpret the
look of constrained anguish which the poor girl threw from the
window of the carriage at the home of her childhood.

"At stated periods, indeed, the mother may hear her daughter's
voice speaking to her as from the depths of the tomb, but she may
never fold her in