Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/191

Rh forward and sideways; waving and elevating the hands, and tripping lightly on the toes through a number of steps—"backwards, forwards, and round and round"—either singly or with a partner; but always gracefully. Several couples compose the group; but the performance of the young-girl, in particular, gives exquisite pleasure to numerous lookers-on, too old to dance themselves—amongst whom may be seen the parents of the heroine, their withered faces radiant with delight and exultation. The only blot upon the picture is the figure of a young man scowling grimly in the background, with his hand fumbling in his breast as if in search of some weapon: he is a rejected suitor, and his look is dangerous. As we turn away, after admiring the varied and easy attitudes of others in the party, a loud shriek is heard—the slighted suitor has rushed upon his favoured rival, knife in hand, the girl has sunk fainting to the ground, and the excited bystanders are endeavouring to separate the combatants.

"Monté, monté, Caballeros!" "Dice and fair play!" are the invitations buzzed about in subdued tones from one end of the crowd to the other. Entering a long, narrow apartment,