68 



NARRATIVE OF A 



Don Juan, but of all his guests. His wife, Dona Cho- 

 nita, an amiable brunette, declared we should not leave 

 Gualan till the following morning. To do otherwise 

 would be a want of consideration towards herself. It 

 would also be a want of taste ; since we should lose the 

 opportunity of seeing a play that was to be performed that 

 night in honour of Saint Isidro, whose festival occurred on 

 the following day ; and we should, moreover, be deprived 

 of the pleasure of seeing Saint Isidro himself, arrayed in 

 his best, upon an altar glittering with lights, and blooming 

 with flowers.* 



Don Jose was unable or unwilling to combat the argu- 

 ments of our pretty hostess, and cast a look at Mr. M. and 

 myself, as if to consult our wishes. It was evident he 

 was desirous of remaining. Mr. M. anticipated my con- 

 currence, by declaring at once that he was in no hurry to 

 depart ; and as his vote gave to Don Jose the majority, 

 mine was not required, and it was definitively settled that 

 we should stay and enjoy the fiesta. 



In the interval between breakfast and dinner, I went, in 

 the company of one of the guests, an ecclesiastic, to take a 

 view of the town. It has a thriving appearance, and con- 

 tains a population of some three thousand souls. The 

 houses are built of solid materials, but consist of only one 

 story, according to the general custom of the country. 

 The principal street is of a good width, and straight, and 



* The festival of St. Isidro is also one of the favorite celebrations of the 

 inhabitants of Madrid. It occurs on the 15th of May, when vast num- 

 bers of people, both from the country and the city, repair to a chapel dedi- 

 cated to the Saint, and situated on an eminence about two miles to the 

 West of Madrid. On this eminence, — which is a charming spot, afford- 

 ing a fine view of the Capitol and of the Manzanares, — and round the 

 chapel, a number of booths and stalls are erected for the sale of sweet- 

 meats, refreshments, and toys, as also stages for the performance of jug- 

 glers and mountebanks. Dancing, singing, music, and feasting, consti- 

 tute the business of the day. St. Isidro is surnamed el labrador (the hus- 

 bandman,) from the profession he pursued, and is the patron of agricul- 

 turists. 



