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tower descended； and opened the door with a trembling hand； and if the
page had been charmed by a mere glimpse of her countenance from the
window； he was ravished by the full length portrait now revealed to
him。
Her Andalusian bodice and trim basquina set off the round but
delicate symmetry of her form； which was as yet scarce verging into
womanhood。 Her glossy hair was parted on her forehead with
scrupulous exactness； and decorated with a fresh…plucked rose；
according to the universal custom of the country。 It is true her
complexion was tinged by the ardor of a southern sun； but it served to
give richness to the mantling bloom of her cheek； and to heighten
the lustre of her melting eyes。
Ruyz de Alarcon beheld all this with a single glance； for it
became him not to tarry； he merely murmured his acknowledgments； and
then bounded lightly up the spiral staircase in quest of his falcon。
He soon returned with the truant bird upon his fist。 The damsel；
in the mean time； had seated herself by the fountain in the hall；
and was winding silk； but in her agitation she let fall the reel
upon the pavement。 The page sprang and picked it up； then dropping
gracefully on one knee； presented it to her； but； seizing the hand
extended to receive it； imprinted on it a kiss more fervent and devout
than he had ever imprinted on the fair hand of his sovereign。
〃Ave Maria； senor！〃 exclaimed the damsel； blushing still deeper with
confusion and surprise； for never before had she received such a
salutation。
The modest page made a thousand apologies； assuring her it was the
way； at court； of expressing the most profound homage and respect。
Her anger； if anger she felt； was easily pacified； but her agitation
and embarrassment continued； and she sat blushing deeper and deeper；
with her eyes cast down upon her work； entangling the silk which she
attempted to wind。
The cunning page saw the confusion in the opposite camp； and would
fain have profited by it； but the fine speeches he would have
uttered died upon his lips； his attempts at gallantry were awkward and
ineffectual； and to his surprise； the adroit page； who had figured
with such grace and effrontery among the most knowing and
experienced ladies of the court； found himself awed and abashed in the
presence of a simple damsel of fifteen。
In fact； the artless maiden； in her own modesty and innocence； had
guardians more effectual than the bolts and bars prescribed by her
vigilant aunt。 Still； where is the female bosom proof against the
first whisperings of love？ The little damsel； with all her
artlessness； instinctively comprehended all that the faltering
tongue of the page failed to express； and her heart was fluttered at
beholding； for the first time； a lover at her feet… and such a lover！
The diffidence of the page； though genuine； was short…lived； and
he was recovering his usual ease and confidence； when a shrill voice
was heard at a distance。
〃My aunt is returning from mass！〃 cried the damsel in affright； 〃I
pray you； senor； depart。〃
〃Not until you grant me that rose from your hair as a remembrance。〃
She hastily untwisted the rose from her raven locks。 〃Take it；〃
cried she； agitated and blushing； 〃but pray begone。〃
The page took the rose； and at the same time covered with kisses the
fair hand that gave it。 Then； placing the flower in his bonnet； and
taking the falcon upon his fist； he bounded off through the garden；
bearing away with him the heart of the gentle Jacinta。
When the vigilant aunt arrived at the tower； she remarked the
agitation of her niece； and an air of confusion in the hall； but a
word of explanation sufficed。 〃A gerfalcon had pursued his prey into
the hall。〃
〃Mercy on us！ to think of a falcon flying into the tower。 Did ever
one hear of so saucy a hawk？ Why； the very bird in the cage is not
safe！〃
The vigilant Fredegonda was one of the most wary of ancient
spinsters。 She had a becoming terror and distrust of what she
denominated 〃the opposite sex；〃 which had gradually increased
through a long life of celibacy。 Not that the good lady had ever
suffered from their wiles； nature having set up a safeguard in her
face that forbade all trespass upon her premises； but ladies who
have least cause to fear for themselves are most ready to keep a watch
over their more tempting neighbors。
The niece was the orphan of an officer who had fallen in the wars。
She had been educated in a convent； and had recently been
transferred from her sacred asylum to the immediate guardianship of
her aunt； under whose overshadowing care she vegetated in obscurity；
like an opening rose blooming beneath a brier。 Nor indeed is this
comparison entirely accidental； for； to tell the truth； her fresh
and dawning beauty had caught the public eye； even in her seclusion；
and； with that poetical turn common to the people of Andalusia； the
peasantry of the neighborhood had given her the appellation of 〃the
Rose of the Alhambra。〃
The wary aunt continued to keep a faithful watch over her tempting
little niece as long as the court continued at Granada； and
flattered herself that her vigilance had been successful。 It is
true； the good lady was now and then discomposed by the tinkling of
guitars and chanting of love ditties from the moonlit groves beneath
the tower； but she would exhort her niece to shut her ears against
such idle minstrelsy； assuring her that it was one of the arts of
the opposite sex； by which simple maids were often lured to their
undoing。 Alas！ what chance with a simple maid has a dry lecture
against a moonlight serenade？
At length King Philip cut short his sojourn at Granada； and suddenly
departed with all his train。 The vigilant Fredegonda watched the royal
pageant as it issued forth from the Gate of Justice； and descended the
great avenue leading to the city。 When the last banner disappeared
from her sight； she returned exulting to her tower； for all her
cares were over。 To her surprise； a light Arabian steed pawed the
ground at the wicket…gate of the garden… to her horror； she saw
through the thickets of roses a youth； in gayly…embroidered dress；
at the feet of her niece。 At the sound of her footsteps he gave a
tender adieu； bounded lightly over the barrier of reeds and myrtles；
sprang upon his horse； and was out of sight in an instant。
The tender Jacinta； in the agony of her grief； lost all thought of
her aunt's displeasure。 Throwing herself into her arms； she broke
forth into sobs and tears。
〃Ay de mi！〃 cried she； 〃he's gone！… he's gone！… he's gone！ and I
shall never see him more！〃
〃Gone！… who is gone？… what youth is that I saw at your feet？〃
〃A queen's page； aunt； who came to bid me farewell。〃
〃A queen's page； child！〃 echoed the vigilant Fredegonda； faintly；
〃and when did you become acquainted with the queen's page？〃
〃The morning that the gerfalcon came into the tower。 It was the
queen's gerfalcon； and he came in pursuit of i