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beginning of your story？〃
〃Nothing has happened me；〃 said she； 〃nor was it jealousy that
brought me out； but merely a longing to see the world； which did not
go beyond seeing the streets of this town。〃
The appearance of the tipstaffs with her brother in custody； whom
one of them had overtaken as he ran away from his sister； now fully
confirmed the truth of what the damsel said。 He had nothing on but a
rich petticoat and a short blue damask cloak with fine gold lace；
and his head was uncovered and adorned only with its own hair； which
looked like rings of gold； so bright and curly was it。 The governor；
the majordomo； and the carver went aside with him； and； unheard by his
sister； asked him how he came to be in that dress； and he with no less
shame and embarrassment told exactly the same story as his sister；
to the great delight of the enamoured carver； the governor； however；
said to them； 〃In truth； young lady and gentleman； this has been a
very childish affair； and to explain your folly and rashness there was
no necessity for all this delay and all these tears and sighs； for
if you had said we are so…and…so； and we escaped from our father's
house in this way in order to ramble about； out of mere curiosity
and with no other object； there would have been an end of the
matter； and none of these little sobs and tears and all the rest of
it。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the damsel； 〃but you see the confusion I was in
was so great it did not let me behave as I ought。〃
〃No harm has been done；〃 said Sancho； 〃come； we will leave you at
your father's house； perhaps they will not have missed you； and
another time don't be so childish or eager to see the world； for a
respectable damsel should have a broken leg and keep at home； and
the woman and the hen by gadding about are soon lost； and she who is
eager to see is also eager to be seen； I say no more。〃
The youth thanked the governor for his kind offer to take them home；
and they directed their steps towards the house； which was not far
off。 On reaching it the youth threw a pebble up at a grating； and
immediately a woman…servant who was waiting for them came down and
opened the door to them； and they went in； leaving the party
marvelling as much at their grace and beauty as at the fancy they
had for seeing the world by night and without quitting the village；
which； however； they set down to their youth。
The head…carver was left with a heart pierced through and through；
and he made up his mind on the spot to demand the damsel in marriage
of her father on the morrow； making sure she would not be refused
him as he was a servant of the duke's； and even to Sancho ideas and
schemes of marrying the youth to his daughter Sanchica suggested
themselves； and he resolved to open the negotiation at the proper
season； persuading himself that no husband could be refused to a
governor's daughter。 And so the night's round came to an end； and a
couple of days later the government； whereby all his plans were
overthrown and swept away； as will be seen farther on。
CHAPTER L
WHEREIN IS SET FORTH WHO THE ENCHANTERS AND EXECUTIONERS WERE WHO
FLOGGED THE DUENNA AND PINCHED DON QUIXOTE； AND ALSO WHAT BEFELL THE
PAGE WHO CARRIED THE LETTER TO TERESA PANZA； SANCHO PANZA'S WIFE
CIDE HAMETE； the painstaking investigator of the minute points of
this veracious history； says that when Dona Rodriguez left her own
room to go to Don Quixote's； another duenna who slept with her
observed her； and as all duennas are fond of prying； listening； and
sniffing； she followed her so silently that the good Rodriguez never
perceived it； and as soon as the duenna saw her enter Don Quixote's
room； not to fail in a duenna's invariable practice of tattling； she
hurried off that instant to report to the duchess how Dona Rodriguez
was closeted with Don Quixote。 The duchess told the duke； and asked
him to let her and Altisidora go and see what the said duenna wanted
with Don Quixote。 The duke gave them leave； and the pair cautiously
and quietly crept to the door of the room and posted themselves so
close to it that they could hear all that was said inside。 But when
the duchess heard how the Rodriguez had made public the Aranjuez of
her issues she could not restrain herself； nor Altisidora either；
and so； filled with rage and thirsting for vengeance； they burst
into the room and tormented Don Quixote and flogged the duenna in
the manner already described； for indignities offered to their
charms and self…esteem mightily provoke the anger of women and make
them eager for revenge。 The duchess told the duke what had happened；
and he was much amused by it； and she； in pursuance of her design of
making merry and diverting herself with Don Quixote； despatched the
page who had played the part of Dulcinea in the negotiations for her
disenchantment （which Sancho Panza in the cares of government had
forgotten all about） to Teresa Panza his wife with her husband's
letter and another from herself； and also a great string of fine coral
beads as a present。
Now the history says this page was very sharp and quick…witted；
and eager to serve his lord and lady he set off very willingly for
Sancho's village。 Before he entered it he observed a number of women
washing in a brook； and asked them if they could tell him whether
there lived there a woman of the name of Teresa Panza； wife of one
Sancho Panza； squire to a knight called Don Quixote of La Mancha。 At
the question a young girl who was washing stood up and said； 〃Teresa
Panza is my mother； and that Sancho is my father； and that knight is
our master。〃
〃Well then； miss；〃 said the page； 〃come and show me where your
mother is； for I bring her a letter and a present from your father。〃
〃That I will with all my heart； senor；〃 said the girl； who seemed to
be about fourteen； more or less； and leaving the clothes she was
washing to one of her companions； and without putting anything on
her head or feet； for she was bare…legged and had her hair hanging
about her； away she skipped in front of the page's horse； saying；
〃Come； your worship； our house is at the entrance of the town； and
my mother is there； sorrowful enough at not having had any news of
my father this ever so long。〃
〃Well；〃 said the page； 〃I am bringing her such good news that she
will have reason to thank God。〃
And then； skipping； running； and capering； the girl reached the
town； but before going into the house she called out at the door；
〃Come out； mother Teresa； come out； come out； here's a gentleman
with letters and other things from my good father。〃 At these words her
mother Teresa Panza came out spinning a bundle of flax； in a grey
petticoat （so short was it one would have fancied 〃they to her shame
had cut it short〃）； a grey bodice of the same stuff； and a smock。
She was not very old； though plainly past forty； strong； healthy；
vigorous； and sun…dried； and seeing her daughter and the page on
horseback； she exclaimed； 〃What's this； child？ What gentleman is
this？〃
〃A servant of my lady； Dona Teresa Panza；〃 replied the page； and
suiting the action to the word he flung himself off his horse； and
with great humility adva