They followed us gravely
about, and we felt that it was an even thing between ourselves and the
church as objects of interest equally ignored by Baedeker. Then we
thought we would go home and proposed going by the Alameda.
That is a beautiful place, where one may walk a good deal, and drive,
rather less, but not sit down much unless indeed one likes being swarmed
upon by the beggars who have a just priority of the benches. There
seemed at first to be nobody walking in the Alameda except a gentleman
pacing to and from the handsome modern house at the first corner, which
our guide said was this cavalier's house. He interested me beyond any
reason I could give; he looked as if he might represent the highest
society in Ronda, but did not find it an adequate occupation, and might
well have interests and ambitions beyond it. I make him my excuses for
intruding my print upon him, but I would give untold gold if I had it to
know all about such a man in such a city, walking up and down under the
embrowning trees and shrinking flowers of its Alameda, on a Sunday
morning like that.
Our guide led us to the back gate of our hotel garden, where we found
ourselves in the company of several other students of English.
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