Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/32

12 Madre A, is handsomer on a closer view than I had supposed her, and seems an especial favorite with old and young. But there was one whose face must have been strikingly beautiful. She was as pale as marble, and though still young, seemed in very delicate health; but her eyes and eyebrows as black as jet, the eyes so large and soft, the eyebrows two pencilled arches; and her smiles so resigned and sweet, would have made her the loveliest model imaginable for a Madonna.

Again, as in the Incarnation, they had taken the trouble to prepare an elegant supper for us. The Bishop took his place in an antique velvet chair, the Señora and I were placed on each side of him. The room was very well lighted, and there was as great a profusion of custards, jellies and ices, as if we had been supping at the most profane café. The nuns did not sit down, but walked about, pressing us to eat, the Bishop now and then giving them cakes, with permission to eat them, which they received laughing. They have the most humble and caressing manners, and really appear to be the most amiable and excellent women in the world. They seem to make no ostentation of virtue, but to be seriously impressed with the conviction that they have chosen the true road to salvation; nor are there in them any visible symptoms of that spiritual pride from which few devotees are exempt.

After supper, a small harp was brought in, which had been sent for by the Bishop's permission. It was terribly out of tune, with half the strings broke; but we were determined to grudge no trouble in