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his crown the rich provinces of the Netherlands； which soon after；
at the Emperor's instigation； revolted against him under the
leadership of some fanatics of the Reformed Church。
His whole married life； with its fierce； fiery…coloured joys and
the terrible agony of its sudden ending； seemed to come back to him
to…day as he watched the Infanta playing on the terrace。 She had
all the Queen's pretty petulance of manner； the same wilful way of
tossing her head； the same proud curved beautiful mouth； the same
wonderful smile … VRAI SOURIRE DE FRANCE indeed … as she glanced up
now and then at the window； or stretched out her little hand for
the stately Spanish gentlemen to kiss。 But the shrill laughter of
the children grated on his ears； and the bright pitiless sunlight
mocked his sorrow； and a dull odour of strange spices； spices such
as embalmers use； seemed to taint … or was it fancy？ … the clear
morning air。 He buried his face in his hands； and when the Infanta
looked up again the curtains had been drawn； and the King had
retired。
She made a little MOUE of disappointment； and shrugged her
shoulders。 Surely he might have stayed with her on her birthday。
What did the stupid State…affairs matter？ Or had he gone to that
gloomy chapel； where the candles were always burning； and where she
was never allowed to enter？ How silly of him； when the sun was
shining so brightly； and everybody was so happy！ Besides； he would
miss the sham bull…fight for which the trumpet was already
sounding； to say nothing of the puppet…show and the other wonderful
things。 Her uncle and the Grand Inquisitor were much more
sensible。 They had come out on the terrace； and paid her nice
compliments。 So she tossed her pretty head； and taking Don Pedro
by the hand； she walked slowly down the steps towards a long
pavilion of purple silk that had been erected at the end of the
garden； the other children following in strict order of precedence；
those who had the longest names going first。
A procession of noble boys； fantastically dressed as TOREADORS；
came out to meet her； and the young Count of Tierra…Nueva； a
wonderfully handsome lad of about fourteen years of age； uncovering
his head with all the grace of a born hidalgo and grandee of Spain；
led her solemnly in to a little gilt and ivory chair that was
placed on a raised dais above the arena。 The children grouped
themselves all round； fluttering their big fans and whispering to
each other； and Don Pedro and the Grand Inquisitor stood laughing
at the entrance。 Even the Duchess … the Camerera…Mayor as she was
called … a thin； hard…featured woman with a yellow ruff； did not
look quite so bad…tempered as usual； and something like a chill
smile flitted across her wrinkled face and twitched her thin
bloodless lips。
It certainly was a marvellous bull…fight； and much nicer； the
Infanta thought； than the real bull…fight that she had been brought
to see at Seville； on the occasion of the visit of the Duke of
Parma to her father。 Some of the boys pranced about on richly…
caparisoned hobby…horses brandishing long javelins with gay
streamers of bright ribands attached to them； others went on foot
waving their scarlet cloaks before the bull； and vaulting lightly
over the barrier when he charged them； and as for the bull himself；
he was just like a live bull； though he was only made of wicker…
work and stretched hide； and sometimes insisted on running round
the arena on his hind legs； which no live bull ever dreams of
doing。 He made a splendid fight of it too； and the children got so
excited that they stood up upon the benches； and waved their lace
handkerchiefs and cried out： BRAVO TORO！ BRAVO TORO！ just as
sensibly as if they had been grown…up people。 At last； however；
after a prolonged combat； during which several of the hobby…horses
were gored through and through； and； their riders dismounted； the
young Count of Tierra…Nueva brought the bull to his knees； and
having obtained permission from the Infanta to give the COUP DE
GRACE； he plunged his wooden sword into the neck of the animal with
such violence that the head came right off； and disclosed the
laughing face of little Monsieur de Lorraine； the son of the French
Ambassador at Madrid。
The arena was then cleared amidst much applause； and the dead
hobbyhorses dragged solemnly away by two Moorish pages in yellow
and black liveries； and after a short interlude； during which a
French posture…master performed upon the tightrope； some Italian
puppets appeared in the semi…classical tragedy of SOPHONISBA on the
stage of a small theatre that had been built up for the purpose。
They acted so well； and their gestures were so extremely natural；
that at the close of the play the eyes of the Infanta were quite
dim with tears。 Indeed some of the children really cried； and had
to be comforted with sweetmeats； and the Grand Inquisitor himself
was so affected that he could not help saying to Don Pedro that it
seemed to him intolerable that things made simply out of wood and
coloured wax； and worked mechanically by wires； should be so
unhappy and meet with such terrible misfortunes。
An African juggler followed； who brought in a large flat basket
covered with a red cloth； and having placed it in the centre of the
arena； he took from his turban a curious reed pipe； and blew
through it。 In a few moments the cloth began to move； and as the
pipe grew shriller and shriller two green and gold snakes put out
their strange wedge…shaped heads and rose slowly up； swaying to and
fro with the music as a plant sways in the water。 The children；
however； were rather frightened at their spotted hoods and quick
darting tongues； and were much more pleased when the juggler made a
tiny orange…tree grow out of the sand and bear pretty white
blossoms and clusters of real fruit； and when he took the fan of
the little daughter of the Marquess de Las…Torres； and changed it
into a blue bird that flew all round the pavilion and sang； their
delight and amazement knew no bounds。 The solemn minuet； too；
performed by the dancing boys from the church of Nuestra Senora Del
Pilar； was charming。 The Infanta had never before seen this
wonderful ceremony which takes place every year at Maytime in front
of the high altar of the Virgin； and in her honour； and indeed none
of the royal family of Spain had entered the great cathedral of
Saragossa since a mad priest； supposed by many to have been in the
pay of Elizabeth of England； had tried to administer a poisoned
wafer to the Prince of the Asturias。 So she had known only by
hearsay of 'Our Lady's Dance；' as it was called； and it certainly
was a beautiful sight。 The boys wore old…fashioned court dresses
of white velvet； and their curious three…cornered hats were fringed
with silver and surmounted with huge plumes of ostrich feathers；
the dazzling whiteness of their costumes； as they moved about in
the sunlight； be