L'Isle overheard and wondered at her perversion of his account of
Algarve, without detecting her motive, and Moodie thought her evident
desire to visit this region proved her little less than mad, for only
her version of select portions of L'Isle's remarks reached his ears.
"It is singular," said L'Isle, "that the Moors should have been more
thoroughly driven out of Algarve, the most southern province, than out
of others north of it. Its maritime position perhaps made it easy for
them to escape to Morocco. But the people are not so dark as in
Alemtejo, and many of the women are beautifully fair. In fact, I have
seen as lovely faces there as in any country but our own."
Lady Mabel took care not to enlighten Moodie by repeating to him this
observation, and he remained convinced that L'Isle had been describing
beforehand to the ladies the country he was leading them to.
"The heat, fatigue, and discomfort of the last four days had almost
worn out Mrs. Shortridge's strength, and now suggested to Lady Mabel
some sage reflections on travel in general, as the result of her
experience.
"Traveling is certainly one of the pleasures of life, with this
peculiarity, that it affords most pleasure when the journey is over.
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