“He did not tell us not to go out of the garden alone; he only told the duenna to watch us. If we could only manage her,” said Rosebud, thoughtfully.
“I am afraid it would not be right,” replied Snowdrop, “but I want to go very much. We will make an altar-cloth, and embroider it with gold, as an offering to the Blessed Virgin. Perhaps she will pity our loneliness, and help us.”
So they wrought an altar-cloth of purple and gold, and spread it upon the altar, before the picture of the Blessed Mother, in their own chamber; putting vases of beautiful flowers upon it. When it was finished they were quite happy, and sat down with their guitars, and sang very sweetly together, till their father came home.
The next morning, an old Mexican woman, with baskets of trinkets for sale, knocked at the garden gate.
When she was admitted, she spread out her finery before the young señoritas. The duenna hastened to the piazza where they were sitting—for no one was more fond of looking over the vendedora’s basket than she, always finding something she could not do without among its tempting stores—this time it was a gay-colored shawl, and she ran away for her purse.
As soon as she was out of sight, the old woman whispered:—
“Pretty señoritas, I have charms to sell. This will make you admired, and this loved,” she said, holding up two curious little bags—one tied with long pink ribbon, the other with blue—“and this,” pointing to a third, “will make you sleep. It contains a powder. You must drop one grain into a glass of water. It is perfectly tasteless, but it brings on a sleep so profound, that until the effect passes away, nothing could awaken you from pleasant dreams.”
The young girls bought the charms. Snowdrop took the one tied with blue ribbon, and placing it in her bosom, whispered, “Now I may be loved.”
“And I will be admired,” said Rosebud, taking the other; but the charm for sleep she concealed in her pocket, just as the old duenna returned, eager for her purchases.
“I have pretty slippers for little dancing feet,” said the old woman, holding up two pairs of the daintiest white satin slippers you could imagine.