A CONCERT, AND ITS ARRANGEMENTS. 43 



trance was into an entresol paved v^h stone, and 

 the ascent by a broad flight of stone steps. The 

 concert room was the sala. At one end was a plat- 

 form, with instruments for the performers and ama- 

 teurs, and two rows of chairs were arranged in par- 

 allel lines, opposite each other, the whole length of 

 the room. When we entered, one row was occupied 

 entirely by ladies, while that opposite was vacant 

 We approached it, but, fortunately, before exposing 

 our ignorance of Merida etiquette, it occurred to us 

 that these also were intended for ladies, and we mo- 

 ved on to a corner which afforded a longitudinal view 

 of one line and an oblique view of the other. As 

 different parties arrived, after leaving shawls, &c., 

 at the door, a gentleman entered, leading the lady 

 by the hand, which seemed much more graceful and 

 gallant than our fashion of hitching her on his arm, 

 particularly when there were two ladies. Leading 

 her to a seat, he left her, and retired to the corridor, 

 or the embrasure of a window. This continued till 

 the whole line of chairs was filled up, and we were 

 crowded out of our corner for our betters, so that the 

 room presented a coup d'ceil of ladies only. Here 

 they sat, not to be touched, handled, or spoken to, but 

 only to be looked at, which, long before the concert 

 was over, some were tired of doing, and I think I am 

 safe in saying that the faces of some of the ladies 

 lighted up when the concert was done, and the gen- 

 tlemen were invited to take partners for a waltz. 

 For the first time in my life, I saw beauty in a 



