She had
smiled upon the unkempt child, and given her the coveted necklace, and
Chiquita loved her for it, while she adored her beauty. Isabelle's
sweet countenance, so angelically mild and pure, exercised a wonderful
influence over the neglected little savage, who had always been
surrounded by fierce, haggard faces, expressive of every evil passion,
and disfigured by indulgence in the lowest vices, and excesses of every
kind.
"But how does it happen that you are here, Chiquita?" asked Isabelle,
after a short silence. "Were you sent to keep guard over me?"
"No, I came alone and of my own accord," answered Chiquita, "because I
saw the light and fire. I was tired of lying all cramped up in a corner,
and keeping quiet, while those beastly men drank bottle after bottle of
wine, and gorged themselves with the good things set before them. I
am so little, you know, so young and slender, that they pay no more
attention to me than they would to a kitten asleep under the table.
While they were making a great noise I slipped quietly away unperceived.
The smell of the wine and the food sickened me. I am used to the sweet
perfume of the heather, and the pure resinous odour of the pines. I
cannot breathe in such an atmosphere as there is down below there.
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