They found here many of the first people of Badajoz and many of the
Spanish officers and their fair friends. Leaning against the parapet
of the bridge, Lady Mabel forgot the idlers walking by, while she
gazed on the scenery around, or watched the gliding stream below, and
listened to L'Isle speaking of the Guadiana; of its mysterious
disappearance near its source, its course betrayed only by the rich
pastures overlying the subterranean streams, of its return to daylight
in the lakes called its eyes: _Ojos de la Guadiana_; and following it
to Portugal, to the _Salto de Lobo_, so called because a wolf might
leap across the deep but narrow chasm between the overhanging rocks,
he named the noted places on its banks, and quoted many a ballad of
which it was the theme. Presently, finding themselves almost alone
they followed their companions, to the bridge head, and joined the
large company assembled in this outwork. The Spanish officers had
provided music for their entertainment, and oranges and confectionary
were handed about. Of the latter, the Spanish and Portuguese ladies,
according to national habit, eat a great quantity. After a pause the
musicians struck up a lively seguidilla, the gentlemen secured
partners, Lady Mabel declining a dozen applications, and with
difficulty ridding herself of Don Alonso, who could not understand how
a lady who delighted so much in his conversation could refuse to dance
with him.
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