Without being very tall she was of stately stature and presence. She was slender, lithe, and graceful as those beautiful dames of the Renaissance, which the Italian painters chose as their models. The line of her soft lustrous neck reminded one of Grecian statues. This neck supported a shapely head; the face fair, the cheeks slightly rose-tinted, delicate, regular, transparent, with ruby lips and blue eyes. She bore a notable resemblance to Doña Gertrudis, but she had an attractive and fascinating expression which that celebrated lady never had, whatever may have been the persuasion of the lyric poet of the acrostics. Around her clear and brilliant eyes showed a slight violet circle, which gave her face a decided poetical tinge.
"Now Suárez, you will see what kind of a singer this girl is," said one lady.
"I shall appreciate her, for this Señor Don Serapio has spoiled my ears for the time being."
"Oh! Maria is an artist."
"What I perceive just now is, that she has a stunning figure."
"You just wait till you hear her."
"That girl does everything well! If you could see how she draws!"
"Haven't the Elorzas any other daughters than this?"
"Yes, that other girl, who is sitting down over there; her name is Marta. She is going to be very handsome, too."
"Indeed, she is pretty; but she hasn't any expression at all. It's a common kind of beauty, while her sister—"