The Alhambra . IIAMBRA summer season, it follows that many a glance of their domesticlife might be obtained by an aerial spectator like myself, whocould look down on them from the clouds. I enjoyed in some degree the advantages of the student inthe famous old Spanish story, who beheld all Madrid unroofedfor his inspection ; and my gossiping squire, ^Nlateo Ximenes,officiated occasionally as my Asmodeus, to give me anecdotes of the different man-sions and their in-habitants. I preferred, however,to form conjecturalhistories for myself,and thus would sit forhours, weaving, fromcasual incidents a
The Alhambra . IIAMBRA summer season, it follows that many a glance of their domesticlife might be obtained by an aerial spectator like myself, whocould look down on them from the clouds. I enjoyed in some degree the advantages of the student inthe famous old Spanish story, who beheld all Madrid unroofedfor his inspection ; and my gossiping squire, ^Nlateo Ximenes,officiated occasionally as my Asmodeus, to give me anecdotes of the different man-sions and their in-habitants. I preferred, however,to form conjecturalhistories for myself,and thus would sit forhours, weaving, fromcasual incidents andindications passing un-der my eye, a wholetissue of schemes, in-trigues, and occupa-tions of the busy mor-tals below. There wasscarce a pretty face ora striking figure thatI daily saw, aboutwhich I had not thusgradually framed adramatic story, thoughcharacters would occasionally act in directthe part assigned them, and disconcert theReconnoitring one day with my glass theAlbaycin, I beheld the procession of a. / / some of myopposition towhole drama,streets of the n novice about to take the veil; and remarked several circum-stances which excited the strongest sympathy in the fate of theyouthful being thus about to be consigned to a living tomb. I THE BALCONY 137 ascertained to my satisfaction that she was beautiful, and, fromthe paleness of her cheek, that she was a victim rather than avotarv. She was arrayed in bridal garments, and decked witha chaplet of white flowers, but her heart evidently revolted atthis mockery of a spiritual union, and yearned after its earthlyloves. A tall stern-looking man walked near her in the proces-sion : it was, of course, the tyrannical father, who, from somebigoted or sordid motive, had compelled this sacrifice. Amidthe crowd was a dark handsome youth, in Andalusian garb,who seemed to fix on her an eye of agony. It was doubtlessthe secret lover from whom she was for ever to be indignation rose as I noted the malignant expressionpa
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondon, bookyear190
