GIL B L A S. if.3
drefling, (having powdering, and perfuming ; refolv' ing to prefent myfclf before her, in fuch a condition’ as would give her no caufe to bluftfat feeing me again-’ I fallied out about ten o’clock, and repaired to her lodging,, to which I received a direflion, at thehoufe t where the players lived. She pofiefTed the chief } apartment of a large houfe; the door of which being v opened to me by a chambermaid, I told her, that I ' wanted to fpeak with dame Kfttlla. The maid went in to fignify my defire, and I immediately heard her I mi ft refs pronounce, with a loud voice, “ Who is this
1 young man ? What docs he want ? Let h:m come
I in.” By this I concluded, that I had chofen an un- feafonablc time for my vilit, that her Portnguezc lover was at her toilet, and that her reafon for fpeaking
I fo loud, was to perfuade him that fhc never received ' fufpe&ed meflages. My conje&ure was true; the Marquis de Marialva commonly palled the morning in her company; and I cxpe&ed a very difagrecable | compliment, when this truly original a&refs feeing me appear, ran to me with open arms, ci ying, “ Ah \ my dear brother! is it you ?” And, with thefe words, embraced me feveral times. Then, turning to her gallant, “ My lord, (faid fhc) pardon me for yielding to the force of blood in your prefence. After an ab- fence of three years, I cannot behold a brother, whom I tcndeily love, without giving him fomc marks of my affe&ion. Well, my dear Gil Bias, (continued fhe, addrefling me anew) tell me fome news of my i family, in what condition did you leave it?’*
This queftion embarraffed meat fiift; but I foon [ difeovered Laura’s intention, and feconding her arti- r flee, anfwered, with an air fuited to the feene we had to a ft. “ Thank heaven, After, our parents are in good health.” “ I don’t doubt (fhc replied) that you arc aftonifhed to find mean attrefs at Grenada ; but do not condemn me unheard. Three years ago, as you remember, inv HI her thought he h^d fettled me 10 advantage, by giving rac in maniage to Cap-
tain