This four-year-old child, that is to say, Frasquita, was nearly thirty years old, and almost six feet high, strongly built in proportion, and even a little stouter than exactly corresponded to her majestic figure.  She looked like a gigantic Niobe, though she never had any children; she seemed like a female Hercules, or like a Roman matron, the sort of whom there are still copies to be seen in the Rioni Trastevere.  But the most striking feature was her mobility, her agility, her animation, and the grace of her rather large person.

For resemblance to a statue, to which the Academician compared her, she lacked statuesque repose.  She bent her body like a reed, or spun around like a weather-vane, or danced like a top.  Her features possessed even greater mobility, and in consequence were even less statuesque.  They were lighted up beautifully by five dimples:  two on one cheek, one on the other, another very small one near the left side of her roguish lips, and the last—­and a very big one—­in the cleft of her rounded chin.  Add to these charms her sly or roguish glances, her pretty pouts, and the various attitudes of her head, with which she emphasized her talk, and you will have some idea of that face full of vivacity and beauty, and always radiant with health and happiness.

Neither Uncle Luke nor Sena Frasquita was Andalusian by birth:  she came from Navarre, and he from Murcia.  He went to the city of ——­ when he was but fifteen years old, as half page, half servant of the bishop, the predecessor of the present incumbent of that diocese.  He was brought up for the Church by his patron, who, perhaps on that account, so that he might not lack competent maintenance, bequeathed him the mill in his will.  But Uncle Luke, who had received only the lesser orders when the bishop died, cast off his ecclesiastical garb at once and enlisted as a soldier; for he felt more anxious to see the world and to lead a life of adventure than to say mass or grind corn.  He went through the campaign of the Western Provinces in 1793, as the orderly of the brave General Ventura Caro; he was present at the siege of the Castle of Pinon, and remained a long time in the Northern Provinces, when he finally quitted the service.  In Estella he became acquainted with Sena Frasquita, who was then simply called Frasquita; made love to her, married her, and carried her to Andalusia to take possession of the mill, where they were to live so peaceful and happy during the rest of their pilgrimage through this vale of tears.

When Frasquita was taken from Navarre to that lonely place she had not yet acquired any Andalusian ways, and was very different from the countrywomen in that vicinity.  She dressed with greater simplicity, greater freedom, grace, and elegance than they did.  She bathed herself oftener; and allowed the sun and air to caress her bare arms and uncovered neck.  To a certain extent she wore the style of dress worn by the gentlewomen of that period; like that of the