John Bull on the Guadalquivir | Page 7

in Seville I spoke no word of overt love
to Maria, thinking, as I confess, to induce her thereby to alter her mode
of conduct to myself. "She knows that I have come here to make love
to her--to repeat my offer; and she will at any rate be chagrined if I am
slow to do so." But it had no effect. At home my mother was rather
particular about her table, and Maria's greatest efforts seemed to be
used in giving me as nice dinners as we gave her. In those days I did
not care a straw about my dinner, and so I took an opportunity of
telling her. "Dear me," said she, looking at me almost with grief, "do
you not? What a pity! And do you not like music either." "Oh, yes, I
adore it," I replied. I felt sure at the time that had I been born in her
own sunny clime, she would never have talked to me about eating. But
that was my mistake.
I used to walk out with her about the city, seeing all that is there of
beauty and magnificence. And in what city is there more that is worth
the seeing? At first this was very delightful to me, for I felt that I was
blessed with a privilege that would not be granted to any other man.
But its value soon fell in my eyes, for others would accost her, and
walk on the other side, talking to her in Spanish, as though I hardly
existed, or were a servant there for her protection. And I was not
allowed to take her arm, and thus to appropriate her, as I should have
done in England. "No, John," she said, with the sweetest, prettiest smile,
"we don't do that here; only when people are married." And she made
this allusion to married life out, openly, with no slightest tremor on her
tongue.

"Oh, I beg pardon," said I, drawing back my hand, and feeling angry
with myself for not being fully acquainted with all the customs of a
foreign country.
"You need not beg pardon," said she; "when we were in England we
always walked so. It is just a custom, you know." And then I saw her
drop her large dark eyes to the ground, and bow gracefully in answer to
some salute.
I looked round, and saw that we had been joined by a young cavalier,-
-a Spanish nobleman, as I saw at once; a man with jet black hair, and a
straight nose, and a black moustache, and patent leather boots, very
slim and very tall, and--though I would not confess it then--
uncommonly handsome. I myself am inclined to be stout, my hair is
light, my nose broad, I have no hair on my upper lip, and my whiskers
are rough and uneven. "I could punch your head though, my fine
fellow," said I to myself, when I saw that he placed himself at Maria's
side, "and think very little of the achievement."
The wretch went on with us round the plaza for some quarter of an hour
talking Spanish with the greatest fluency, and she was every whit as
fluent. Of course I could not understand a word that they said. Of all
positions that a man can occupy, I think that that is about the most
uncomfortable; and I cannot say that, even up to this day, I have quite
forgiven her for that quarter of an hour.
"I shall go in," said I, unable to bear my feelings, and preparing to leave
her. "The heat is unendurable."
"Oh dear, John, why did you not speak before?" she answered. "You
cannot leave me here, you know, as I am in your charge; but I will go
with you almost directly." And then she finished her conversation with
the Spaniard, speaking with an animation she had never displayed in
her conversations with me.
It had been agreed between us for two or three days before this, that we
were to rise early on the following morning for the sake of ascending
the tower of the cathedral, and visiting the Giralda, as the iron figure is

called, which turns upon a pivot on the extreme summit. We had often
wandered together up and down the long dark gloomy aisle of the
stupendous building, and had, together, seen its treasury of art; but as
yet we had not performed the task which has to be achieved by all
visitors to Seville; and in order that we might have a clear view over
the surrounding country, and not be tormented by the heat of an
advanced sun, we had settled that we would ascend the Giralda before
breakfast.
And now, as I walked away from the plaza towards Mr.