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336 the felt; allowing him to feel, what he so much enjoyed, the full influence of the sun. I had purchased a Guayaquil hat made of a fine elastic reed peculiar to that country, as fine as, and much more durable than, Leghorn, and consequently gave him a straw one which I had purchased at Madeira, very light and about seven inches in the brim. He considered for a minute what he should do; and looking at his old companion with a sort of scrutinizing affection, jerked it suddenly away, and, then, deliberately adopting its successor, with its flimsy pretensions to such capital preferment, completed his costume.

The anxious moment of departure was now arrived: the last mules were tramping slowly but steadily through the gateway, without hoot or encouragement, but following instinctively their companions and the sound of the little bell suspended to the neck of their leader.

Don Eugenio had received the reiterated blessings and repeated embraces of his