AN UNCIVIL HOSTESS. 



23 



city before I reached the house to which I had been 

 recommended. I dismounted, and entered it with con- 

 fidence of a warm reception ; but the lady, with consid- 

 erable expedition, told me that her husband was not at 

 home. I gave her a note with which I had been fur- 

 nished, addressed to herself; but she said she could not 

 read English, and handed it back. I translated it word 

 for word, being a request that she would give me lodg- 

 ings. Her brow actually knit with vexation ; and she 

 said she had but one spare room, and that was re- 

 served for the English vice-consul from R-ealejo. I an- 

 swered that the vice-consul did not intend leaving Re- 

 alejo for the present. She asked me how long I intend- 

 ed to stay ; and when I replied only that night, she 

 said that if such was the case I might remain. The 

 reader will perhaps wonder at my want of spirit ; but 

 the fact is, I was loth to consider any incivility person- 

 al. My only alternative was to seek out the young 

 man whose invitation I had declined, and whose name 

 I did not know, or to ask admission from door to door. 



It is said that women are governed by appearances, 

 and mine was not very seductive. My dress was the 

 same with which I had left Grenada, soiled by the as- 

 cent of the Volcano of Masaya, and now covered with 

 dust. Making the most of my moderate wardrobe, on 

 my reappearance I was more favourably received. At 

 least I had a capital breakfast ; and as it was very hot, 

 and I wanted to rest, I remained in doors and played 

 with the children. At dinner I had the seat of honour 

 at the head of the table, and had made such progress, 

 that, if I had desired it, I would have ventured to broach 

 the subject of remaining another day ; and I owe it to 

 the lady to say, that, having assented to my remaining, 



