"Pepita, do you know what Doña Rosario said just now about the dress you have on?--that it is most elegant, exquisite, and tasteful."
Whereupon Pepita, filled with pride as she sat in her box, cast quite an affectionate glance at Doña Rosario, little as she liked her.
Then, again, "How well you managed Villamor's chocolate business for the widow and children, friend Eugenio--you did, indeed. Don Rosendo was just telling me he let the business slip through his fingers like a fool."
As Don Rosendo was the best man of business in the town, Don Eugenio could not help feeling flattered at these words.
After chatting for some little time with the Belinchon family, Don Mateo took leave, to prosecute, as usual, his visits to the other boxes; but before going he turned to Cecilia, and said:
The young girl flushed slightly, and replied:
Then Doña Paula, smiling mischievously, came to her daughter's rescue, by saying:
"He ought to arrive in the 'Bella Paula,' which sailed from Liverpool."
"Oh! then we shall be having him here to-morrow or next day. You have prayed a good deal to the Virgin de las Tormentas--the Virgin of the Storms--eh?"
"She has actually had a _nones_--six candles have been burning for days before the image," said Venturita.
Cecilia's blush deepened, and she smiled. She was a young woman of twenty years of age, neither beautiful in face nor graceful in figure; the harmony of her features was spoiled by her nose being too aquiline. Without this drawback she would not have been plain, for her eyes were extremely good--so soft and expressive that few beauties could rival them. She was neither tall nor short, but rather thin, and her shoulders slightly bent. Her sister Venturita was sixteen years of age, and as full of grace and beauty as a lovely flower. Her oval cheeks seemed made of roses and pinks; she was somewhat small, but so perfectly made that she looked like a wax model. Her jasmine-like hands and her fairy-like feet were the talk of Sarrio.
The softness and smoothness of her skin were like mother-of-pearl and alabaster; her creamy forehead, high and narrow as that of a Greek Venus, was shaded by fair curls; and rich, abundant golden tresses covered her shoulders and fell below her waist.