ARICA. 



195 



miseration for the sufferers ; widely different from 

 that pleasing sort of pity which description ex- 

 cites. 



After a long search, we discovered the house 

 of the Spaniard we were in quest of ; an elderly 

 man, who laughed and joked about the recent 

 disasters in a manlier that at first surprised us 

 exceedingly ; but we soon saw that it was the 

 wild mirth of despair, a sort of feverish delirium ; 

 for he, too, was utterly ruined and broken-heart- 

 ed ; and soon relapsed, from the excitement our 

 presence had caused, into a gloomy despondency. 

 Whilst he and the gentleman, who had brought 

 him letters, were discussing their business, I made 

 acquaintance with a pretty little brown damsel, 

 upon whom the distress of the times had fallen 

 but lightly ; for she smiled through all, and 

 seemed very happy. She was a clever and con- 

 versible person, but resisted, with great adroit- 

 ness, all our attempts to make out in what rela- 

 tion she stood to the master of the house ; leav- 

 ing us in doubt whether she were his wife, his 

 mistress, his daughter, or his maid. She showed 

 us over the beautiful garden and dressed grounds 



