LA MAEIPOSA. 285 



plump and pretty baby hands, proclaimed that it was there. 

 Her Inca blood only showed in her hair ; in her eyes, in her 

 graceful nonchalant step, in the look of quiet, set deter- 

 mination that stole over her countenance whenever it was 

 in repose. Her hair, blue-black, and without a wave, was 

 turned back from her face, gathered all together, without a 

 parting, high up on the back of her head, and hung down 

 in one massive fall to within a foot of the ground. Her 

 eyes ! They were a revelation such wonderful eyes. 

 Large brown ones dark eyes, having that expression of 

 dreamy, loving, appealing helplessness, that is the distin- 

 guishing characteristic of the loveliest of blue eyes, and yet 

 which sometimes flashed and blazed like black diamonds. 

 And their setting their lids their lashes their brows ! 

 And her little pearly teeth her mouth ! But hold 

 this will never do ; if I describe all her features I shall 

 run out of adjectives before I get to her figure. That will 

 be where I shall want them most. But first comes, of 

 course, her dress. She was attired in a white muslin gown 

 cut after the fashion of the country; that is to say, with 

 hardly any body to it, very low in the neck, and exceedingly 

 short in the waist. Sleeves call them pieces of tape 

 round the arms but pray recollect the climate. Dancing 

 in a room heated with many lamps when the thermometer is 

 at ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit out of doors " in the cool," 

 necessitates and excuses scanty clothing. The skirt long and 

 flowing, no crinoline, no hidden construction of mechanical 

 invention for improving heaven save the mark the figure. 

 No ! the natural form revealed its charming outlines in 

 every graceful movement. How was her dressed trimmed ? 



