He left the room; and 'Toinette, rising, made a hasty breakfast; and
then, putting on the brocade-silk dress, and placing upon her head
the wreath Giovanni had twisted of natural flowers for her, she
peeped into the glass, and laughed aloud at the fanciful and
beautiful image that met her eyes.

"I am glad I look so pretty," murmured she, with an innocent delight
at her own beauty, that was not vanity, although, it might, if
untrained, lead to it.

"Come, Ciriegia, are you never ready?" called Giovanni from the
other side of the door; and Cherry, running to open it, exclaimed in
Italian,--

"Oh, see, my father! am I not beautiful?"

"Truly so; but you should not say it, bamb¡na. The charm of a maiden
is her modesty," said the Italian gravely.

"But, if it is true, why mustn't I say so?" asked Cherry positively.

"Many things that we know are never to be said, Ciriega. But come,
now: you are to dance first for these people, and they will make no
charge for our beds and the miserable provender they have given us."

As he spoke, Giovanni led the way to the lower hall of the hotel,
where a number of men were lounging, smoking, or talking; while
through the open doors of the parlor and office were to be seen some
ladies and gentlemen, idling away the hour after breakfast, before
proceeding to their business, their journey, or their amusement.