Then there
were always some of his official dependents, his chaplain, his lawyer,
his secretary, his steward, and other officers and agents of his
extensive possessions, who brought him up the news or gossip of the
city, and formed his evening party of tresillo or ombre. Thus he
held a kind of domestic court, where each one paid him deference,
and sought to contribute to his amusement, without, however, any
appearance of servility, or any sacrifice of self-respect. In fact,
nothing of the kind was exacted by the demeanor of the count; for
whatever may be said of Spanish pride, it rarely chills or
constrains the intercourse of social or domestic life. Among no people
are the relations between kindred more unreserved and cordial, or
between superior and dependent more free from haughtiness on the one
side, and obsequiousness on the other. In these respects there still
remains in Spanish life, especially in the provinces, much of the
vaunted simplicity of the olden time.
The most interesting member of this family group, in my eyes, was
the daughter of the count, the lovely little Carmen; she was but about
sixteen years of age, and appeared to be considered a mere child,
though the idol of the family, going generally by the child-like,
but endearing appellation of la Nina. Her form had not yet attained
full maturity and development, but possessed already the exquisite
symmetry and pliant grace so prevalent in this country.
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