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a Spaniard should know their language。 They are ignorant of Spanish；
and they cannot bring themselves to believe that any one should be
better educated than themselves。〃
Now the blow had fallen； and I straightway appreciated the necessity
of returning immediately to Clapham where my family resided； and
giving up for ever all idea of Spanish connections。 I had resolved
to assert the full strength of my manhood on that tower； and now
words had been spoken which left me weak as a child。 I felt that I
was shivering； and did not dare to pronounce the truth which must be
made known。 As to speaking of love； and signifying my pleasure that
Don Tomas should for the future be kept at a distance； any such
effort was quite beyond me。 Had Don Tomas been there； he might have
walked off with her from before my face without a struggle on my
part。 〃Now I remember about it；〃 she continued； 〃I think he must
have been in the boat on Thursday。〃
〃And now that I remember；〃 I replied； turning away to hide my
embarrassment； 〃he was there。 Your friend down below in the plaza
seems to have made out a grand story。 No doubt he is not fond of the
English。 There was such a man there； and I did take hold〃
〃Oh； John； was it you？〃
〃Yes； Donna Maria； it was I； and if Lord John Russell were to dress
himself in the same way〃 But I had no time to complete my
description of what might occur under so extravagantly impossible a
combination of circumstances； for as I was yet speaking； the little
door leading out on to the leads of the tower was opened and my
friend； the mayo of the boat； still bearing gewgaws on his back；
stepped up on to the platform。 My eye instantly perceived that the
one pendule was still missing from his jacket。 He did not come
alone； but three other gentlemen followed him； who； however； had no
peculiarities in their dress。 He saw me at once and bowed and
smiled； and then observing Donna Maria； he lifted his cap from his
head； and addressing himself to her in Spanish； began to converse
with her as though she were an old friend。
〃Senor；〃 said Maria； after the first words of greeting had been
spoken between them； 〃you must permit me to present to you my
father's most particular friend； and my own；Mr。 Pomfret； John； this
is the Marquis D'Almavivas。〃
I cannot now describe the grace with which this introduction was
effected； or the beauty of her face as she uttered the word。 There
was a boldness about her as though she had said； 〃I know it allthe
whole story。 But； in spite of that you must take him on my
representation； and be gracious to him in spite of what he has done。
You must be content to do that； or in quarrelling with him you must
quarrel with me also。〃 And it was done at the spur of the moment
without delay。 She； who not five minutes since had been loudly
condemning the unknown Englishman for his rudeness； had already
pardoned him； now that he was known to be her friend； and had
determined that he should be pardoned by others also or that she
would share his disgrace。 I recognised the nobleness of this at the
moment； but； nevertheless； I was so sore that I would almost have
preferred that she should have disowned me。
The marquis immediately lifted his cap with his left hand while he
gave me his right。 〃I have already had the pleasure of meeting this
gentleman；〃 he said； 〃we had some conversation in the boat together。〃
〃Yes；〃 said I； pointing to his rent； 〃and you still bear the marks of
our encounter。〃
〃Was it not delightful； Donna Maria；〃 he continued； turning to her；
〃your friend's friend took me for a torero？〃
〃And it served you properly； senor；〃 said Donna Maria； laughing； 〃you
have no right to go about with all those rich ornaments upon you。〃
〃Oh！ quite properly； indeed； I make no complaint； and I must beg your
friend to understand； and his friend also； how grateful I am for
their solicitude as to my pecuniary welfare。 They were inclined to
be severe on me for being so extravagant in such trifles。 I was
obliged to explain that I had no wife at home kept without her proper
allowance of dresses； in order that I might be gay。〃
〃They are foreigners； and you should forgive their error；〃 said she。
〃And in token that I do so；〃 said the marquis； 〃I shall beg your
friend to accept the little ornament which attracted his attention。〃
And so saying； he pulled the identical button out of his pocket； and
gracefully proffered it to me。
〃I shall carry it about with me always；〃 said I； accepting it； 〃as a
memento of humiliation。 When I look at it； I shall ever remember the
folly of an Englishman and the courtesy of a Spaniard；〃 and as I made
the speech I could not but reflect whether it might； under any
circumstances； be possible that Lord John Russell should be induced
to give a button off his coat to a Spaniard。
There were other civil speeches made； and before we left the tower
the marquis had asked me to his parties； and exacted from me an
unwilling promise that I would attend them。 〃The senora；〃 he said；
bowing again to Maria； 〃would； he was sure； grace them。 She had done
so on the previous year； and as I had accepted his little present I
was bound to acknowledge him as my friend。〃 All this was very
pretty； and of course I said that I would go； but I had not at that
time the slightest intention of doing so。 Maria had behaved
admirably； she had covered my confusion； and shown herself not
ashamed to own me； delinquent as I was； but； not the less； had she
expressed her opinion； in language terribly strong； of the
awkwardness of which I had been guilty； and had shown almost an
aversion to my English character。 I should leave Seville as quickly
as I could； and should certainly not again put myself in the way of
the Marquis D'Almavivas。 Indeed； I dreaded the moment that I should
be first alone with her； and should find myself forced to say
something indicative of my feelingsto hear something also
indicative of her feelings。 I had come out this morning resolved to
demand my rights and to exercise themand now my only wish was to
man away。 I hated the marquis； and longed to be alone that I might
cast his button from me。 To think that a man should be so ruined by
such a trifle！
We descended that prodigious flight without a word upon the subject；
and almost without a word at all。 She had carried herself well in
the presence of Almavivas； and had been too proud to seem ashamed of
her companion； but now； as I could well see； her feelings of disgust
and contempt had returned。 When I begged her not to hurry herself；
she would hardly answer me； and when she did speak； her voice was
constrained and unlike herself。 And yet how beautiful she was！
Well； my dream of Spanish love must be over。 But I was sure of this；
that having known her； and given her my heart； I could never
afterwards share it with another。
We came out at last on the dark； gloomy aisle of the cathedral； and
walked together without a word up along the side of the choir； till
we came to the transept。 There was not a soul near us； and not a
sound was to be heard but the distant； low pattering of a mass； then
in course of celebrat