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garters of white taffety bordered with gold and pearl； her breeches
were of green and gold stuff； and under an open jacket or jerkin of
the same she wore a doublet of the finest white and gold cloth； her
shoes were white and such as men wear； she carried no sword at her
belt； but only a richly ornamented dagger； and on her fingers she
had several handsome rings。 In short； the girl seemed fair to look
at in the eyes of all； and none of those who beheld her knew her；
the people of the town said they could not imagine who she was； and
those who were in the secret of the jokes that were to be practised
upon Sancho were the ones who were most surprised； for this incident
or discovery had not been arranged by them； and they watched anxiously
to see how the affair would end。
Sancho was fascinated by the girl's beauty； and he asked her who she
was； where she was going； and what had induced her to dress herself in
that garb。 She with her eyes fixed on the ground answered in modest
confusion； 〃I cannot tell you； senor； before so many people what it is
of such consequence to me to have kept secret； one thing I wish to
be known； that I am no thief or evildoer； but only an unhappy maiden
whom the power of jealousy has led to break through the respect that
is due to modesty。〃
Hearing this the majordomo said to Sancho； 〃Make the people stand
back； senor governor； that this lady may say what she wishes with less
embarrassment。〃
Sancho gave the order； and all except the majordomo； the
head…carver； and the secretary fell back。 Finding herself then in
the presence of no more； the damsel went on to say； 〃I am the
daughter； sirs； of Pedro Perez Mazorca； the wool…farmer of this
town； who is in the habit of coming very often to my father's house。〃
〃That won't do； senora；〃 said the majordomo； 〃for I know Pedro Perez
very well； and I know he has no child at all； either son or
daughter； and besides； though you say he is your father； you add
then that he comes very often to your father's house。〃
〃I had already noticed that；〃 said Sancho。
〃I am confused just now； sirs；〃 said the damsel； 〃and I don't know
what I am saying； but the truth is that I am the daughter of Diego
de la Llana； whom you must all know。〃
〃Ay； that will do；〃 said the majordomo； 〃for I know Diego de la
Llana； and know that he is a gentleman of position and a rich man； and
that he has a son and a daughter； and that since he was left a widower
nobody in all this town can speak of having seen his daughter's
face； for he keeps her so closely shut up that he does not give even
the sun a chance of seeing her； and for all that report says she is
extremely beautiful。〃
〃It is true；〃 said the damsel； 〃and I am that daughter； whether
report lies or not as to my beauty； you； sirs； will have decided by
this time； as you have seen me；〃 and with this she began to weep
bitterly。
On seeing this the secretary leant over to the head…carver's ear；
and said to him in a low voice； 〃Something serious has no doubt
happened this poor maiden； that she goes wandering from home in such a
dress and at such an hour； and one of her rank too。〃 〃There can be
no doubt about it；〃 returned the carver； 〃and moreover her tears
confirm your suspicion。〃 Sancho gave her the best comfort he could；
and entreated her to tell them without any fear what had happened her；
as they would all earnestly and by every means in their power
endeavour to relieve her。
〃The fact is； sirs；〃 said she； 〃that my father has kept me shut up
these ten years； for so long is it since the earth received my mother。
Mass is said at home in a sumptuous chapel； and all this time I have
seen but the sun in the heaven by day； and the moon and the stars by
night； nor do I know what streets are like； or plazas； or churches； or
even men； except my father and a brother I have； and Pedro Perez the
wool…farmer； whom； because he came frequently to our house； I took
it into my head to call my father； to avoid naming my own。 This
seclusion and the restrictions laid upon my going out； were it only to
church； have been keeping me unhappy for many a day and month past；
I longed to see the world； or at least the town where I was born；
and it did not seem to me that this wish was inconsistent with the
respect maidens of good quality should have for themselves。 When I
heard them talking of bull…fights taking place； and of javelin
games； and of acting plays； I asked my brother； who is a year
younger than myself； to tell me what sort of things these were； and
many more that I had never seen； he explained them to me as well as he
could； but the only effect was to kindle in me a still stronger desire
to see them。 At last； to cut short the story of my ruin； I begged
and entreated my brother… O that I had never made such an entreaty…〃
And once more she gave way to a burst of weeping。
〃Proceed； senora；〃 said the majordomo； 〃and finish your story of
what has happened to you； for your words and tears are keeping us
all in suspense。〃
〃I have but little more to say； though many a tear to shed；〃 said
the damsel； 〃for ill…placed desires can only be paid for in some
such way。〃
The maiden's beauty had made a deep impression on the
head…carver's heart； and he again raised his lantern for another
look at her； and thought they were not tears she was shedding； but
seed…pearl or dew of the meadow； nay； he exalted them still higher；
and made Oriental pearls of them； and fervently hoped her misfortune
might not be so great a one as her tears and sobs seemed to
indicate。 The governor was losing patience at the length of time the
girl was taking to tell her story； and told her not to keep them
waiting any longer； for it was late； and there still remained a good
deal of the town to be gone over。
She； with broken sobs and half…suppressed sighs； went on to say； 〃My
misfortune； my misadventure； is simply this； that I entreated my
brother to dress me up as a man in a suit of his clothes； and take
me some night； when our father was asleep； to see the whole town；
he； overcome by my entreaties； consented； and dressing me in this suit
and himself in clothes of mine that fitted him as if made for him （for
he has not a hair on his chin； and might pass for a very beautiful
young girl）； to…night； about an hour ago； more or less； we left the
house； and guided by our youthful and foolish impulse we made the
circuit of the whole town； and then； as we were about to return
home； we saw a great troop of people coming； and my brother said to
me； 'Sister； this must be the round； stir your feet and put wings to
them； and follow me as fast as you can； lest they recognise us； for
that would be a bad business for us；' and so saying he turned about
and began； I cannot say to run but to fly； in less than six paces I
fell from fright； and then the officer of justice came up and
carried me before your worships； where I find myself put to shame
before all these people as whimsical and vicious。〃
〃So then； senora；〃 said Sancho； 〃no other mishap has befallen you；
nor was it jealousy that made you leave home； as you said at the
beginning of your story？〃
〃Nothing has happened me；〃 said she； 〃