The Monk | Page 5

whom the
youngest of the Cavaliers now offered his seat, while the other thought
it necessary to pay the same attention to her companion.
The old Lady with many expressions of gratitude, but without much
difficulty, accepted the offer, and seated herself: The young one
followed her example, but made no other compliment than a simple and
graceful reverence. Don Lorenzo (such was the Cavalier's name, whose
seat She had accepted) placed himself near her; But first He whispered

a few words in his Friend's ear, who immediately took the hint, and
endeavoured to draw off the old Woman's attention from her lovely
charge.
'You are doubtless lately arrived at Madrid,' said Lorenzo to his fair
Neighbour; 'It is impossible that such charms should have long
remained unobserved; and had not this been your first public
appearance, the envy of the Women and adoration of the Men would
have rendered you already sufficiently remarkable.'
He paused, in expectation of an answer. As his speech did not
absolutely require one, the Lady did not open her lips: After a few
moments He resumed his discourse:
'Am I wrong in supposing you to be a Stranger to Madrid?'
The Lady hesitated; and at last, in so low a voice as to be scarcely
intelligible, She made shift to answer,-- 'No, Segnor.'
'Do you intend making a stay of any length?'
'Yes, Segnor.'
'I should esteem myself fortunate, were it in my power to contribute to
making your abode agreeable. I am well known at Madrid, and my
Family has some interest at Court. If I can be of any service, you
cannot honour or oblige me more than by permitting me to be of use to
you.'--'Surely,' said He to himself, 'She cannot answer that by a
monosyllable; now She must say something to me.'
Lorenzo was deceived, for the Lady answered only by a bow.
By this time He had discovered that his Neighbour was not very
conversible; But whether her silence proceeded from pride, discretion,
timidity, or idiotism, He was still unable to decide.
After a pause of some minutes--'It is certainly from your being a
Stranger,' said He, 'and as yet unacquainted with our customs, that you

continue to wear your veil. Permit me to remove it.'
At the same time He advanced his hand towards the Gauze: The Lady
raised hers to prevent him.
'I never unveil in public, Segnor.'
'And where is the harm, I pray you?' interrupted her Companion
somewhat sharply; 'Do not you see that the other Ladies have all laid
their veils aside, to do honour no doubt to the holy place in which we
are? I have taken off mine already; and surely if I expose my features to
general observation, you have no cause to put yourself in such a
wonderful alarm! Blessed Maria! Here is a fuss and a bustle about a
chit's face! Come, come, Child! Uncover it; I warrant you that nobody
will run away with it from you--'
'Dear aunt, it is not the custom in Murcia.'
'Murcia, indeed! Holy St. Barbara, what does that signify? You are
always putting me in mind of that villainous Province. If it is the
custom in Madrid, that is all that we ought to mind, and therefore I
desire you to take off your veil immediately. Obey me this moment
Antonia, for you know that I cannot bear contradiction--'
Her niece was silent, but made no further opposition to Don Lorenzo's
efforts, who, armed with the Aunt's sanction hastened to remove the
Gauze. What a Seraph's head presented itself to his admiration! Yet it
was rather bewitching than beautiful; It wasnot so lovely from
regularity of features as from sweetness and sensibility of Countenance.
The several parts of her face considered separately, many of them were
far from handsome; but when examined together, the whole was
adorable. Her skin though fair was not entirely without freckles; Her
eyes were not very large, nor their lashes particularly long. But then her
lips were of the most rosy freshness; Her fair and undulating hair,
confined by a simple ribband, poured itself below her waist in a
profusion of ringlets; Her throat was full and beautiful in the extreme;
Her hand and arm were formed with the most perfect symmetry; Her
mild blue eyes seemed an heaven of sweetness, and the crystal in which

they moved sparkled with all the brilliance of Diamonds: She appeared
to be scarcely fifteen; An arch smile, playing round her mouth, declared
her to be possessed of liveliness, which excess of timidity at present
represt; She looked round her with a bashful glance; and whenever her
eyes accidentally met Lorenzo's, She dropt them hastily upon her
Rosary; Her cheek was immediately suffused with blushes, and She
began to tell her beads; though