Anxious Inquiries 



street, the white horse stopped before a house, out of which 

 came two women. One embraced her husband, as he dis- 

 mounted ; the other, who seemed young and beautiful, as 

 far as the dim light of the street (which only came from a 

 few straggling windows and stars) allowed us to judge, 

 after glancing anxiously about among the horsemen, ex- 

 claimed, — 



" Where is my Pedro ? Why have you not brought him 

 back to me ! " 



" Do you expect me to carry your pet hawk on my wrist, 

 pretty Rosita ? " 



"I don't know what can be the matter with Rosa," said 

 the elder woman, "she has been moping and fretting about 

 her Perrico all day." 



Here we said good-night, and rode on, still hearing indis- 

 tinctly through the thickening veil of darkness the maiden's 

 eager tones of inquiry after her lover. It was evident she 

 had felt some mournful presentiment of his fate, which we 

 but too probably connected with our adventure of the 

 dehesa. We went, as we had been recommended, to the 

 Posada de la Spada (Sword Inn), were received as distin- 

 guished guests, supped on a clean tablecloth, and were 

 recognised by the ostler in the stable, when we went to see 

 our ponies fed, as having passed a year ago. This we did 

 not deny, but applauded his memory. 



128 



