NOTICES OF CHILE. 



127 



ing his stand beside the ladies, left foot in advance, left thumb 

 in the arm hole of his vest, and his bottle-green frock thrown 

 back ; while the right hand, by turns, pointed to the picture 

 and stroked his long visage between the fingers and thumb, 

 dropping the lower jaw as they reached his chin, he thus dis- 

 coursed — Well, ladies, there's a likeness for you — the mouth 

 almost as rich as yours, Doiia Panchita — (this was said with 

 a bow) — and the eye still retains its fire ; it must have been, 

 when young, like yours. Dona Maria ; — (another bow) — then 

 the cheek, pale to be sure, possesses a no se que" that I ad- 

 mire. What a pity that time should take away the young bloom 

 from so fine a face ! Now, when I look again, I think. Dona 

 Carmencita, the cap is rather high, and the bow of ribbon on 

 the left side is rather too blue — very little though; — dont 

 you think so, Dona Rosita ?" 



Quien sabe !" replied the laughing girl. 

 <^ You are right, ladies," continued Sir Thomas, ^^the cap 

 is too high, and the ribbon a very little too blue ; the ladies, 

 for taste in such matters, after all." The ladies really thought, 

 as Sir Thomas wished, that they had suggested the faults in 

 the cap and ribbons ; and agreed with him in every other re- 

 spect. Like one of experience and tact in the world, he at once 

 drew their attention to the miniatures of some young beaux, 

 and then to some prints, keeping up their admiration to the 

 last ; and on taking leave, assured them, in a low tone, that 

 their aunt's portrait was his master-piece, and by no means a 

 flattering likeness !" 



But to return to our table d^hbte; a broken down English 

 gentleman, much given to playing dice; a young Scotchman, 

 gay in spite of misfortune, with an eye as bright and blue as 

 the bonnet of velvet he wore on one side of his head ; a dump- 

 ling looking Englishman, who d d his eyes if ever he 



had seen such toast, or such a set of ignorant, penurious rascals 

 as were the officers of the Chilian government — because they 

 would not pay him a sum of money, one-third of which was 

 more than he could justly claim. These, with several others, 

 whom I cannot characterize, usually filled the table ; they were 



