Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/402

382 birth-day, was a box containing three generals' belts, with a request that she would bestow them on those whom she considered most deserving of them; and that the lady herself buckled the sashes on her favored knights, in her own boudoir. Thus was Valor rewarded by the hand of Beauty; and

Meanwhile the master of the house presents himself with a disturbed and gloomy countenance, and doubts much whether we can have any dinner today, because no one will sell anything, either for copper or silver; moreover hints darkly that they expect a copper pronunciamiento to-morrow; and observes that the shops are shut up.

Since we could get no dinner, we went out to take a walk; and methinks the Tolucanos have a fierce and agitated aspect. We attempted to go to mass this morning, but there was a congregation of léperos, who filled not only the church, but the whole enclosure and the street beyond, so that we could not even approach the church door. Unfortunately we cannot get a diligence until the 21st.

They have brought us at last, I will not say dinner—but something to eat.

20th.—This morning, the firing of squibs, the beating of drums, the shouting and confusion on the streets, announced that the ragamuffin population of Toluca had turned out; and going to the balcony, I very nearly received the salutation of