"There, awaiting you," Antonio answered. "I will take care of Babieca and return," and he led the donkey away, coming back in a few moments, and they all waited impatiently.
Spaniards all love a spectacle, and the young folk could hardly restrain themselves as they heard the strains of music coming nearer and nearer. At last the cavalcade came in sight,—first a troop of soldiers, then a band playing the Marcha Real, then a mounted guard keeping close to His Majesty's carriage. There he sat, the young king, a tall, slight youth, with a pale, proud face and great black eyes, sad, yet merry and tender; a patrician face in every feature, yet a lovable one, and one to arouse all of love and loyalty in his subjects, as the character of Alphonso XIII. arouses their respect and affection.
As the carriage paused at the entrance gate, the king looked up at the eager little group upon the wall and smiled. Juanita and Pepita flung into his carriage their huge bouquets of flowers and to the girls he threw a kiss; but Fernando and Antonio stood up very straight and saluted gravely, and with a smile in his eyes, but with grave lips, the young king raised his hand to his hat and gave them in return the military salute. Then his carriage passed on, and bore him out of sight, but a shout went up from every voice, "Viva el rey!"
"When I grow up I shall be a nun and pray all the time for the king!" said Pepita.
"I shall be a soldier and fight for him," said Fernando, proudly.
"And I," said Juanita, "shall marry and have many children to fight and pray for him and for Spain!"
"Indeed, little sister, perhaps thou hast chosen the better part," said Pablo, laughing heartily.
"See!" cried Antonio, "there goes the carriage again, and hear how the people shout!" and as the bravas rent the air, the children shouted, too:
"Viva Espagna! Viva el rey! Dios guarda usted!"[20]