HOPES AND PERSUASIONS.
"In the morning my head and heart both ached with the strain of thought
which had racked them so piteously. I shrank nervously from appearing
before any of my tormentors. But they came to my door, wondering what
kept me so late. There was to be a splendid religious procession that
day. All the churches of Seville were to send forth their imaged
Madonnas in great splendor, with attending priests, that their
worshipers might see them by broad daylight. Great preparations had been
made on this occasion, for one Madonna of wonderful potency was to be
brought forth from her convent for the first time in ninety years. The
convent Montes Serat being one of most holy repute, and at a distance
from the city, had not, for nearly a century, joined in the procession
of the holy week; but now its famous Madonna was coming forth from her
sacred privacy, rich in the gifts of her votaries, resplendent with the
jewels which attested her superior sanctity.
"The advent of no crowned monarch into his capital ever produced a
greater sensation than this coming of our Lady of Montes Serat. It awoke
a strong spirit of rivalry in all the churches of Seville. Fair devotees
emptied their jewel cases in behalf of their favorite Madonnas--nothing
was withheld which female pride could bestow on the object of its
religious idolatry. So, for a time, all Seville was in a tumult of
ambitious rivalry, and out of this was sure to come the most brilliant
day of the holy week. I had not cared to go to this exhibition, but
General Harrington had secured a balcony overlooking that of the Infanta
and her suite. It was to be a splendid procession, they said, and I
should regret it forever if they permitted me to remain at home.
"I found it easier to submit than to contend, but still hesitated, when
James Harrington came up to the verandah where we were sitting, and
leaning over my chair, whispered a request that I should go. His manner
was almost caressing, and there thrilled through his voice such genuine
anxiety, that I could hardly suppress the quick leaping of my heart, or
speak at first, it throbbed so loudly. The rest had left us and we were
alone.
"'Do go! It seems an age since I have seen you except in a crowd,' he
said, drawing a chair to mine.
"'But this will be a crowd, also!'
"'Not for us.'
"I looked up suddenly and felt the warm crimson leap to my face, when my
eyes met his.
"'Let us be happy this once,' he said, 'the crowd itself will be well
worth seeing. Besides, the Infanta will be there, with her husband, Le
Duc de Montpensier. Then remember that the Princess Clementina, wife of
the Prince of Saxe Coburg will be of the party,--quite a nest of
royalty, you will find; just the persons that I for one should like to
see.'
"'And so would I. My heart always warms toward the children of that good
man, Louis Philippe,' I answered.
"'Then you will go?'
"'Yes, I will certainly go; the promise of seeing all these interesting
persons makes me almost impatient.'
"'Ah, how bright you look; we shall have a pleasant day. Mother is
getting ready. She seems to be feeling young as a girl. Did you ever see
any one change as she has since we came to Seville?'
"'The General was speaking of it this morning,' I replied. 'She is so
well and happy,' he said, 'that I can hardly think of moving yet. The
very air of Seville carries balm with it.'
"Harrington turned away and walked to a window, as if I had said
something to disturb him. After a little he came back again with the air
of a man who had flung aside some unpleasant burden, and began to talk
of the country we were in.
"'What a calm, delicious climate it is,' he said, 'I wonder people can
get angry or very much in earnest here. For myself this country life
seems like floating at will on some lake, with scarcely air enough to
stir a sail, or ripple foam wreaths around the prow of one's boat; the
very breath we draw is a luxury.'
"'A sad one sometimes,' I answered, 'the very solitude and repose which
steal over one, enfeebles the spirit and makes life too harmonious for
improvement either of the mind or heart. Continued life in a place like
this, would rob an American of his last attribute,--a love of
progression. Rest and sensuous enjoyment were not intended for a people
like us. Yet the place is so lovely, I feel like a traitor while saying
this.'
"He looked at me with unconscious earnestness, sighed gently and paced
the room once or twice before he resumed the subject.
"'You are right; a soul worth having would never content itself with the
drowsy sweetness of a life like this. After all, the great glory of
existence lies in action.'
"'And the greatest happiness;' I answered, with a dreamy sense of the
inaction to which I, as a woman, was forever consigned.
"'You speak with the feeling of a man, shut out from his proper career,'
he said, 'there, I think you and I can have sympathy; only the life of a
woman should be restful, and full of love.'
"'And I of a man?' I questioned.
"'You must not ask that question of a man shut out from action, and--and
even from the woman's privilege of loving.'
"What was there in my expression that changed his so instantly? Could he
discover in my eyes the brightness that had come over me with the sound
of his voice, tender and impressive as it had been that day among the
water lilies? I do not know, but in a moment a cloud crept over his
face, and a chill into his voice.
"'Excuse me, if I have pressed you over much,' he said. 'But it is a
lovely day and the procession will be well worth seeing. If it would not
be considered sacrilegious among so many good Catholics, I should say,
there would be a rivalry among the Madonnas. You will go?'
"'Yes,' I answered, sinking into depression again, 'as well there as
here. Who will be of our party?'
"'Oh, the General, and my mother, of course, with the Eatons. That will
be enough to fill the balcony.'
"I felt the blood growing warm in my cheeks. Why must those Eatons
forever compose a portion of our party? Could no one see how I detested
this eternal companionship with persons who had not a single idea or
principle in common with us?
"Just then Miss Eaton came into the balcony--her transparent muslin
dress looped up at the sleeves and throat with delicate blue ribbons,
floating like a cloud around her, and a wreath of forget-me-nots
relieving the snow-white chip of her bonnet. Her parasol was frosted
over with soft Brussels lace, and a better dressed or more beautiful
creature I have seldom set my eyes upon. James Harrington left my chair
the moment she appeared. Taking the parasol from her hand, he commenced
playing with it as he conversed with her, lightly, carelessly, and with
such smiles as he had not given me in many a long day.
"At times one gets in love with pain, to abridge it seems like
cowardice. What mattered it whether I suffered a little more or less,
since suffering was so early become my destiny? This girl, with her
bright beauty and soft words, superseded me every where; yet she did not
seem to prize the homage for which I famished, but stood there, smiling
up in his face, and dropping a sweet word now and then, carelessly, as
she would have given sugar to a parrot."