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wounded the eye。 In the four corners of the patio were four large
orange…trees； covered with fruit。 I would not say a word in special
praise of these； remembering that childish promise she had made on my
behalf。 In the middle of the court there was a fountain； and round
about on the marble floor there were chairs； and here and there a
small table； as though the space were really a portion of the house。
It was here that we used to take our cup of coffee and smoke our
cigarettes； I and old Mr。 Daguilar； while Maria sat by； not only
approving； but occasionally rolling for me the thin paper round the
fragrant weed with her taper fingers。 Beyond the patio was an open
passage or gallery； filled also with flowers in pots； and then；
beyond this； one entered the drawing…room of the house。 It was by no
means a princely palace or mansion； fit for the owner of untold
wealth。 The rooms were not over large nor very numerous； but the
most had been made of a small space； and everything had been done to
relieve the heat of an almost tropical sun。
〃It is pretty； is it not？〃 she said； as she took me through it。
〃Very pretty；〃 I said。 〃I wish we could live in such houses。〃
〃Oh； they would not do at all for dear old fat； cold； cozy England。
You are quite different； you know； in everything from us in the
south； more phlegmatic； but then so much steadier。 The men and the
houses are all the same。〃
I can hardly tell why； but even this wounded me。 It seemed to me as
though she were inclined to put into one and the same category things
English； dull； useful； and solid； and that she was disposed to show a
sufficient appreciation for such necessaries of life； though she
herself had another and inner sensea sense keenly alive to the
poetry of her own southern chime； and that I； as being English； was
to have no participation in this latter charm。 An English husband
might do very well； the interests of the firm might make such an
arrangement desirable； such a mariage de convenanceso I argued to
myselfmight be quite compatible withwith heaven only knows what
delights of superterrestial romance； from which I； as being an
English thick…headed lump of useful coarse mortality； was to be
altogether debarred。 She had spoken to me of oranges； and having
finished the survey of the house； she offered me some sweet little
cakes。 It could not be that of such things were the thoughts which
lay undivulged beneath the clear waters of those deep black eyes
undivulged to me； though no one else could have so good a right to
read those thoughts！ It could not be that that noble brow gave index
of a mind intent on the trade of which she spoke so often！ Words of
other sort than any that had been vouchsafed to me must fall at times
from the rich curves of that perfect month。
So felt I then； pining for something to make me unhappy。 Ah； me！ I
know all about it now； and am content。 But I wish that some learned
pundit would give us a good definition of romance； would describe in
words that feeling with which our hearts are so pestered when we are
young； which makes us sigh for we know not what； and forbids us to be
contented with what God sends us。 We invest female beauty with
impossible attributes； and are angry because our women have not the
spiritualised souls of angels； anxious as we are that they should
also be human in the flesh。 A man looks at her he would love as at a
distant landscape in a mountainous land。 The peaks are glorious with
more than the beauty of earth and rock and vegetation。 He dreams of
some mysterious grandeur of design which tempts him on under the hot
sun； and over the sharp rock； till he has reached the mountain goal
which he had set before him。 But when there； he finds that the
beauty is well…nigh gone； and as for that delicious mystery on which
his soul had fed； it has vanished for ever。
I know all about it now； and am； as I said； content。 Beneath those
deep black eyes there lay a well of love； good； honest； homely love；
love of father and husband and children that were to comeof that
love which loves to see the loved ones prospering in honesty。 That
noble browfor it is noble； I am unchanged in that opinion； and will
go unchanged to my gravecovers thoughts as to the welfare of many；
and an intellect fitted to the management of a household； of
servants； namely； and children； and perchance a husband。 That mouth
can speak words of wisdom； of very useful wisdomthough of poetry it
has latterly uttered little that was original。 Poetry and romance！
They are splendid mountain views seen in the distance。 So let men be
content to see them； and not attempt to tread upon the fallacious
heather of the mystic hills。
In the first week of my sojourn in Seville I spoke no word of overt
love to Maria； thinking； as I confess； to induce her thereby to alter
her mode of conduct to myself。 〃She knows that I have come here to
make love to herto repeat my offer； and she will at any rate be
chagrined if I am slow to do so。〃 But it had no effect。 At home my
mother was rather particular about her table； and Maria's greatest
efforts seemed to be used in giving me as nice dinners as we gave
her。 In those days I did not care a straw about my dinner； and so I
took an opportunity of telling her。 〃Dear me；〃 said she； looking at
me almost with grief； 〃do you not？ What a pity！ And do you not like
music either。〃 〃Oh； yes； I adore it；〃 I replied。 I felt sure at the
time that had I been born in her own sunny clime； she would never
have talked to me about eating。 But that was my mistake。
I used to walk out with her about the city； seeing all that is there
of beauty and magnificence。 And in what city is there more that is
worth the seeing？ At first this was very delightful to me； for I
felt that I was blessed with a privilege that would not be granted to
any other man。 But its value soon fell in my eyes； for others would
accost her； and walk on the other side； talking to her in Spanish； as
though I hardly existed； or were a servant there for her protection。
And I was not allowed to take her arm； and thus to appropriate her；
as I should have done in England。 〃No； John；〃 she said； with the
sweetest； prettiest smile； 〃we don't do that here； only when people
are married。〃 And she made this allusion to married life out；
openly； with no slightest tremor on her tongue。
〃Oh； I beg pardon；〃 said I； drawing back my hand； and feeling angry
with myself for not being fully acquainted with all the customs of a
foreign country。
〃You need not beg pardon；〃 said she； 〃when we were in England we
always walked so。 It is just a custom； you know。〃 And then I saw
her drop her large dark eyes to the ground； and bow gracefully in
answer to some salute。
I looked round； and saw that we had been joined by a young cavalier；…
…a Spanish nobleman； as I saw at once； a man with jet black hair； and
a straight nose； and a black moustache； and patent leather boots；
very slim and very tall； andthough I would not confess it then
uncommonly handsome。 I myself am inclined to be stout； my hair is
light； my nose broad； I have no hair on my upper lip； and my whiskers