Geraldine caught a few words of a conversation which was going on between two ladies about herself and her partner.

"Miss Montresor will work a reformation, I think, in Mr. Le Vasseur; he seems quite captivated."

"They would make a very handsome couple," was the reply; "but, by all accounts, he is too much under the yoke to cast it off easily. What a pity that young man has so thrown himself away!"

She lost the immediate rejoinder, and then heard, "Taken to gambling lately."

Geraldine was startled at what she heard; she felt a thrill of painful disappointment, and unconsciously raising her eyes, she observed an expression of uneasiness pass over the pleasing and animated countenance of her graceful partner...

"Will you waltz now, Miss Montresor ?" he said, quickly.

"Yes, do let us go on," she replied as quickly; and she felt a slight pressure of the hand he held, as if he were grateful to her for removing from the vicinity of the gossips whose disclosures were so mal à propos.

Geraldine

The waltz was over, and Le Vasseur still lingered by Geraldine's side, but the ease and vivacity of their conversation were gone. insensibly sank into silence, and he stood looking at her as if there were something which he wished to, but dared not, say. He sighed; she echoed the sigh. Sighs in some cases are dangerous things, and there is no knowing to what future results those which have just been recorded might have been the precursors, had not Mrs. Montresor's well-timed approach put to flight the awakening sensibilities of Geraldine and Le Vasseur. That lady's manner to poor Le Vasseur was as repulsive as possible, without utter disregard to the rules of good breeding; and upon some very slender pretext she abruptly carried her daughter off to a distant part of the room.

Geraldine, who knew that her mother's prudence led her to be all things to all men and all women, was extremely surprised at her scant civility to poor Le Vasseur, and she was not a little chagrined when Mrs. Montresor requested her not to dance with him again.

66

Why not, mamma?" she asked.

"The why I will explain to you at another time, but you may rely on my prudence, Geraldine, and believe that I would not unnecessarily interfere with your choice of partners."

"How very odd!" thought Geraldine. "What can be the matter with Mr. Le Vasseur, that this ban seems to be put upon him? Yet the gentlemen seem to be on good terms with him."

Wondering would not solve the mystery, but Geraldine could not drive the subject from her mind the whole evening, and she felt a degree of provocation at her mother for having forbidden her to dance with Le Vasseur, to whom she had previously engaged herself for the first dance after supper.

Feeling vexed, Geraldine looked listless, and almost cross. Helen, too, seemed much out of spirits; her usual gaiety had fled, and not even the attentions of Mr. Thornley could call a smile to her cheek. Bad spirits and bad humour are very infectious, and the unusual gravity of the two leading belles speedily gave a tone to the evening. The day which had commenced so propitiously seemed about to close heavily in weariness and dissatisfaction, and everybody wondered why nobody seemed pleased.

"What can have become of Lionel Seymour, Miss Ludlow ?" demanded Mrs. Mackenzie, who was leaning on Mr. Fish's arm. "He has disappeared as if by magic. I hope he was not forgotten when we returned to our boats, and left to play Juan Fernandez on a desert island."

"He felt extremely indisposed," said Helen, "and apologised to papa for not keeping his engagement here this evening. He went home when we landed; he felt the fever coming on, I believe."

"Oh, did he? Poor fellow! I dare say he was in a hot enough fever," said Mrs. Mackenzie, with a significant look.

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"Hot fever! Dear me !" exclaimed Mr. Fish, in much alarm. "".I was sure some of us would suffer from exposure to the 'doo.' Poor Mr. Seymour! he should lose some ounces of blood. He would find being bled a great relief; it might check the increase of his complaint."

Mrs. Mackenzie laughed heartily. "What, you would bleed him, would you? To cool him, no doubt."

"I think bleeding in such cases: as his very efficacious," replied Mr. Fish, solemnly. "Ah! I was afraid of that heavy doo.' I begin to feel some awkward symptoms myself a slight degree of cold shivering-ague coming on, I am afraid." And looking extremely miserable, he began to shake from mere apprehension.

"Let me prescribe for you, Mr. Fish. Take a tumbler of warm sangaree, and will have no ague."

you

"Sangaree? No; I guess a glass of swizzel would be more wholesome. Will you join me in a little swizzel ?"

“Í, Mr. Fish? Ask a lady to drink rum-and-water!" exclaimed Mrs. Mackenzie, reddening, and making a face of disgust.

"No offence, madam. In 'Mericay ladies often drink rum-and-water." "That may be, Mr. Fish, but ladies don't drink rum-and-water in the West Indies—at least, I never, in the whole course of my life, met but with one who did, and she, poor woman, would willingly have dispensed with the water. Rum killed her at last."

"Do you mean to insinooate, madam," said Mr. Orlando Fish, waxing wroth, "that the ladies of the Oonited States drink ?"

"I have it from your own authority that they drink rum-and-water." "Madam, there do not exist on the face of the earth females so temperate as our 'Merican females."

"Mr. Fish, far be it from me to gainsay it. I don't in the least doubt their temperance and their excellence in every respect. I am sure, if you had not just now told me it, I should never have dreamt that they were addicted to drinking rum."

Mr. Fish looked daggers at his impertinent companion, but he scorned making any further reply; and unceremoniously dropping her arm, he consoled himself by going in search of the swizzel which was to ward off his anticipated ague.

"The hot-headed Yankee !" exclaimed Mrs. Mackenzie, as he strode indignantly away, "he hardly needs his swizzel to warm him now."

"So, Geraldine, you have bestowed the bouquet you said you were preparing for Fanshawe on Mr. Le Vasseur? I think I see it displayed in the button-hole of his coat. Do you give him myrtle?" asked Mrs. Temple, with a slight sneer..

"I dropped the bouquet when I was waltzing with Mr. Le Vasseur, I believe," said Geraldine," and if he wears it, he must have taken the

trouble of picking it up. I ought to be flattered by his thinking it worth while to preserve my poor bouquet."

"Flattered!" exclaimed Mrs. Temple; "he ought to think himself honoured in being permitted to preserve it, and infinitely honoured in Miss Montresor's having condescended to waltz with him."

Le Vasseur did not attempt to speak to Geraldine during supper, nor to penetrate the crowd of gentlemen who surrounded her chair, but, standing at a little distance from the opposite side of the table, he kept his eyes fixed on her with a look of deep interest and unrepressed admiration, and the moment supper was over he came forward to remind her of her promise to dance with him again.

"I am very sorry," said Geraldine, "but my promise to you must be annulled by one I have made since. My mother does not wish me to dance any more to-night, and I believe we are going home immediately.

Le Vasseur looked mortified and disappointed, and Geraldine would have said something to do away the unpleasant feeling her refusal to dance with him again seemed to have created, but she perceived that her mother and Mrs. Temple were observing her attentively, and dreading a lecture on imprudence from the one, and some well-bred ridicule from the other, she bade Le Vasseur good evening, and passed hastily on. She remarked that he left the room immediately, and soon after Mrs. Montresor's party also took their leave.

A HOLIDAY TOUR IN SPAIN.

BY A PHYSICIAN.

THE total absence of daylight prevented any passenger from seeing the pretty improving town of Loja, although nearly an hour was wasted by several taking chocolate-that perpetual refreshment of Spaniards at all times or seasons. Nevertheless, it may be interesting to mention that it was always a place of great importance when the Moors possessed Granada, it being considered one of the keys of their position. In the middle of the town an ancient castle perches upon a rock, and below runs the celebrated river Genil-afterwards seen at Granada-crossed by an old Moorish bridge, while several prospects in the neighbourhood are reported as very picturesque. Lachar a very miserable-looking place was next traversed; then Santa Fé, having a much better aspect, with some good houses; and lastly, the productive Vega lay spread out on every side, with Granada glittering in the sun at a distance. For several hours, before arriving at that much-desired termination of a most fatiguing night journey, the scorching sunshine, blinding clouds of dust, and a high wind, which prevented any of the diligence windows being opened, lest some of the six tired prisoners therein confined might be choked, made it no small gratification when, about eight A.M., the lumbering vehicle at last delivered its living cargo over to the tender mercies of publicans and hotel-keepers, who always gladly receive such profitable consignments.

Notwithstanding, or perhaps in consequence of, the frequently exag

gerated encomiums promulgated by most travellers, the present member of that class, on first entering Granada, felt considerably disappointed with the primary impressions he then received from various objects observed.

The streets through which the carriage passed were mostly meanlooking, with dilapidated houses, if judged from their outward aspect; while a dirty, not very amiably featured, population occupied doorways, or sides of thoroughfares, when sufficiently wide to permit them doing so with safety. The paving was very bad, and the Plaza del Triunfo traversed became so suffocatingly dusty, that any previous poetical imaginings about this famed locality were thereby, for the time, entirely dissipated, until entering afterwards the Carrera de Xenil, the public promenade, ornamented with trees and fountains, its umbrageous Alameda near the Darro river, besides the distant, but still snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range. Then, these varied and really most attractive objects, as likewise the whole surrounding scenery, again restored to the traveller's mind some of his former pleasurable anticipations.

Granada, so interesting to all foreigners, and hence frequently visited by admirers of Moorish antiquities, is now very different from its condition when under Arabian rule. At that period the city is reported to have contained four hundred thousand inhabitants. Now there are not one hundred thousand, according to reliable authorities. After the Moors were expelled, early in the fifteenth century-their capital having been conquered by Ferdinand and Isabella on the 2nd of January, 1492-this place has been continuously falling away from its previous splendour and magnificence; while, according to Mr. Ford, "it stagnates, at present, in bookless ignorance, has neither letters, arts, nor arms, that of cock-fighting excepted. Education is at its lowest ebb. The petty commerce is passive, and, like Cordova, from being an Athens under the Moors, it has become a Boeotia under the Spaniards." These are strong expressions. But that able author having had ample opportunities, during his long residence at the Alhambra, to form an opinion, such denunciations must be correct, and taken as true exponents of the modern condition of this favoured residence of the ancient Arabians in Spain. When Moors were masters, the surrounding Vega was considered superior in fertility to the valley of Damascus, and the numerous villas, then seen everywhere, were compared with Oriental pearls set in a cup of emeralds. In fact, this district was, like the Huerta of Valencia, esteemed by all Moorish inhabitants as another earthly paradise.

Numerous authors, both learned and ephemeral, having amply described this ancient Andalusian capital, its varied history, former magnitude, still interesting antiquities, and modern decadency, it seems superfluous to discuss at any length either questions which have been already often investigated, or to occupy time with details regarding objects frequently mentioned by previous travellers, who give full descriptions of everything worth examination, both in the city and neighbourhood.

The great attraction at Granada is, of course, the Alhambra; and if nothing else deserved notice, the most distant journey would be amply compensated by inspecting that magnificent Moorish palace, which was not only a royal residence, but an alcazar. However, that celebrated abode of luxurious kings is not the only place worth seeing, there being many other objects, both sacred and profane, which are also exceedingly interesting. Indeed, everywhere in Granada the tourist will find not

only relics of that extraordinary people who governed this part of Spain during many centuries, but likewise the remains of public buildings constructed by their successors; some of which possess many historical associations. Further, several charitable institutions yet exist well worthy of examination, having been founded by its early Christian sovereigns, more especially when Queen Isabella lived, who was the glory of her country, and one of the most beneficent rulers Spain ever possessed.

While alluding to this truly excellent woman, it is worthy of remark that frequently, during female reigns, greater renown is acquired by the country over which a queen rules, than where males occupy the throne. Take, for example, England's great queen, Elizabeth; Margaret, called the Semiramis of the North, and Queen of Scandinavia, who reigned towards the end of the fourteenth century; Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary; Catherine II., Empress of Russia; and last, but certainly not least, the present beloved sovereign of Great Britain. Throughout the reigns of these female potentates, more beneficial measures to improve the condition of their subjects, and also to extend the fame and influence of their respective countries, have been enacted, than during many male sovereigns, however numerous. Even in Spain, by the present queen's government, many improvements have been accomplished, and more are likely to ensue, which never would have taken place had another Ferdinand VII. occupied her place. One explanation may be given of the superiority now noticed with reference to female sovereigns-namely, they have often the good sense to adopt sage advice of wise counsellors. Whereas, men frequently follow their own; and, if they are headstrong, ignorant, or foolish, hence become tyrants, if not injudicious governors.

Notwithstanding the just praise above expressed respecting Queen Isabella, bad measures were certainly sometimes carried into effect during her lifetime and that of Ferdinand. Thus, after the conquest of Granada, she sanctioned eight hundred thousand rich and industrious Jews being expelled from Spain, whose wealth and knowledge made them most valuable subjects. This cruel proceeding proved one of the first serious blows which was inflicted upon the Peninsula, and from that period it has been in a state of decadency, although now beginning to recover. Had Isabella survived her gloomy, bigoted husband, or had he died before her decease in 1504, many of the calamities inflicted on Moorish and Jewish Spaniards might never have been perpetrated; the queen being far more enlightened and humane than the narrow-minded Ferdinand.

Unlike most places whose intrinsic beauty and interesting features have been often so overpraised by travellers, or visitors who gave such full scope to their imaginations, that subsequent but more phlegmatic observers sometimes felt disappointed, the Alhambra, in place of appearing a less wonderful structure than the writer expected, fully realised his previously formed expectations; whether in reference to its unique character, architectural elegance, fairy appearance, or from being one of the few remaining specimens of Moorish artistic taste which can be now seen in Europe. Irrespective of that circumstance, from its fine commanding site, peculiar ornamentation-illustrating the domestic habits prevailing among a then highly cultivated race, but since driven forth to other regions and lastly, the rich magnificence everywhere prevailing, even to the most minute ap