506 ANPALUSIAN SKETCHES. 



apparently, the ladies left the room. The two travellers ru>w laid 

 aside their hats and cloaks, and I looked with no approving eye upon 

 them. Don Tomas was an athletic handsome young man, his fea- 

 tures bearing strong resemblance to those of his sister to Pomasina. 

 Rafael, his companion, was a short insignificant-looking fellow, with 

 a countenance singularly forbidding, sallow complexion, downcast 

 look. At length Don Henrique observing me still seated with the 

 guitar in my hand, and evidently dissatisfied, spoke. Turning 

 towards Tomas, " My dear son," said the old man, in a mild and 

 tremulous tone of voice, "let me make known to you Don Jose 

 Romero, the accepted lover of our Pomasina. He is a miller well to 

 do in the world, and will I feel assured make our beloved girl happy." 

 I rose, prepared to receive the greeting of my future brother-in-law; 

 but it was so coldly, nay, so rudely offered, that I could scarcely 

 refrain from shewing at once my feelings of deep displeasure. But 

 I did control them, and soon made some excuse for retiring. What 

 a miserable night I passed! Sometimes vowing dire revenge against 

 the insolent Tomas ; then transferring my animosity to his com- 

 panion, who I at once pronounced to be my intended rival. You 

 will easily infer that he was so. On the morning of each of the two 

 following days I rode to the door of Don Henrique's house, but 

 failed to obtain an admittance. The family were denied to me, but 

 the confused look of the menial who answered me betrayed the false- 

 hood of his assertion, that all were from home. The third day was 

 the Patron Saint's Day of Pomasina. I had long since resolved again 

 to entreat that our nuptial day should be fixed, when I presented to 

 my love the appropriate offering of flowers, which you know is the 

 custom in Spain upon these anniversaries. I reached the door of the 

 house; the nosegay of delicious perfume was in my hand, but my 

 heart sank my lips could scarcely give utterance to the usual demand 

 for admittance. I was ushered forward. When I entered the room 

 my worst forebodings were confirmed. .Pomasina sat on the white 

 dimity-covered sofa, placed at the farther end of the apartment. She 

 had already received the first offering of flowers, which she held in 

 hand, carelessly I must own, her countenance sorrowful, her eyes 

 dim and filled with tears. Beside her, in a constrained, uneasy atti- 

 tude, was seated Don Rafael ; and on chairs at a distance were the 

 old couple in evident grief. Don Tomas paced the floor in sullen 

 mood. For an instant I was staggered; but I recovered myself, and 

 advanced towards her whom I loved more than words can express. 

 " Let me present,*' said I with energy, " let me offer to my affianced 

 bride these token-flowers They tell of my constancy of my hope. 

 Let my beloved now name the day which will make her mine own. 

 I would not ask this question before others, in the presence of a 

 stranger too, but that I fear to delay it longer, and Don Rafael seems 

 domesticated in the family as a second brother." And here I am 

 sure I looked not very blandly on the intruder. He turned away 

 from my fiery glance of defiance. Before any one could reply, Don 

 Tomas stepped forward. " Let me put an end to this foolery/' said 

 he in a bitter sneering tone. " This can never be. My sister is no 

 meet wife for the dweller in a forest. A miller I am told he calls 



