“I have come to tell you,” she broke in, “that your child is now in this very city; three years and a half she has been a captive slave in Tunis, though not serving as a slave, for she was absolute master of the household of her owner. And at the end of that time he gave her her liberty together with a large fortune in money.”
“Oh, sir, tell us where is she!” ejaculated Don Juan Ramirez; “let our aged eyes rest on her again before we die, so shall we be consoled for our troubles!”
Then Doña Josefa threw off her disguise, and falling on her knees before them, entreated their pardon for all her errors and all the anxiety she had given them.
Having received that, she told them she had determined to pass the rest of her days in penitence in a convent, which she did with their hearty approval; and in this kind of life she spent many years, affording a lively and edifying example to all. And thus ended in peace the tragic adventures of Doña Josefa Ramirez y Marmolejo.
[1] Ornamented iron-work in front of the lower windows of Spanish houses. [↑]
[2] A warm hunting-cap, with flaps to cover the forehead and ears, capable therefore of serving, in some sort, as a disguise. [↑]
[3] The Sevillians to the present day give a very bad character to the Valencians. [↑]
[4] A spreading vine, trained along a horizontal trellis, so as to form a shady arbour; an unfailing adjunct to most houses in the south of Spain. [↑]