TERTULIA. 



201 



glimmer of which gave a dismal light to the room ; 

 but by an incongruity characteristic of the coun- 

 try, the candlestick was large and handsome, and 

 made of massy silver. Behind the light in a glass 

 case was displayed an image of the Virgin, dress- 

 ed up as Nuestra Senora de Guadaloupe, the 

 patron saint of Mexico, almost suffocated with a 

 profusion of tawdry artificial flowers. The line 

 of ladies on one side reached to the door, and, 

 on the side opposite, to a table about half-way 

 along the room, on which were placed wine and 

 water, gentlemen's hats and ladies' shawls. Against 

 one of the corner tables rested a guitar ; and it 

 seldom happened that there was not some person 

 present ready to play a popular tune, or to ac- 

 company the ladies, many of whom sung very 

 prettily. This occasional music went on without 

 interrupting the conversation ; indeed, the sound 

 of the guitar amongst the Spaniards or their 

 descendants is so familiar, that it acts more as a 

 stimulus, a sort of accompaniment to conversation, 

 than as an interruption. At the further end of 

 the room was a card-table, where most of the 

 gentlemen played at a game called monte. The 



