"My sweetest Pilar," he answered, and clasped her to his breast. His
heart was really full to overflowing at that moment She took his arm
and proceeded to lead him about the room, showing and explaining the
various objects to him. "This is my mamma as she looked twenty-five
years ago, when she went to the Feria at Seville. That is a sort of
fair at Easter, and one of the most famous popular festivals of
Spain. We must go to it some day together. And that is my late
father as major-general. Here he is in the robes of a Knight of San
Iago, one of our highest military orders. It has existed since the
twelfth century, and, strangely enough, one of my ancestors was
among its first members. These are my father's decorations and
badges of office. Come and look at this clock, it is quite unique.
The province of Gordova had it made, and presented it to my father
when he gave up his command there. I suppose you recognized this
pastel. It is a very good likeness. Do you think it pretty?"
"Pretty! The word is a gross injustice. Say rather exquisitely,
ravishingly beautiful."
"Thanks, my Wilhelm. And if you had known me then, you would have
loved me and wanted to marry me, would you not?"
"But you would hardly have wanted to marry me, a poor devil of a
plebeian, who was badly dressed and did not even know how to dance.
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