“Like the _plaza_ and the _alameda_ in all Spanish towns, this square is the great resort of the people in the evening. The band plays here, and the scene is quite lively,” continued Dr. Winstock. “When I was a young man I used to see a deal of flirting on this square; but since I have grown older I don’t notice such things. I was stationed on the coast of Africa, in a sloop-of-war, looking out for slavers; and the ship came up here to recruit the health of the men. One of our officers was smitten with a Santa Cruz beauty; and he adopted the custom of the country. He followed her about the streets, dogged her steps, in a manner that would have amounted to an outrage at home. At last he obtained an introduction to her; but this was hardly necessary, though his prejudices required it of him. But he only saw her in the plaza, and in the Prince Royal Square; and she evidently liked him as well as he did her. Not till they were engaged was he permitted by the custom of the islands to enter her father’s house, or hotel it was in this instance; for she was a _Canarienne_, and only a temporary resident.” “Did the officer marry her?” asked Murray, with deep interest. “Of course you would not be satisfied to have me omit the _denoûment_ of the novel,” added the surgeon, laughing. “He did marry her; and I think she is a dignified matron in the city of Philadelphia at this time.” The party walked about the city till they had exhausted its sights, which was soon done. The doctor introduced his charge to the delicious chocolate to be had at the cafés on the plaza; but some of them declared that it was too thick, and preferred the ice-cream made from the snows of the peak of Teneriffe. The cicerone then proposed a long walk, which would occupy the rest of the day. “I am ready, for one; but what do you call a long walk, doctor? Some folks think three miles is a long walk; but I don’t apply the phrase to any thing less than fifty miles,” replied Scott. “I propose to go to Laguna, the ancient city of this island. It is five miles distant; and, as the town is two thousand feet above the sea, it will be up-hill all the way. If you are too tired to walk back, you can return in the _dilijencia_.” The party gladly assented to the plan; and they started out of the city. In a short time they left the well-paved streets of the great road, which is fully equal to the royal highways of Spain. “Laguna is a summer resort for the wealthy people of Santa Cruz; and the heat on the seashore, when the wind comes from the coast of Africa, is intense,” said the doctor, as the party trudged on their way. “But it is not the most desirable place on the island, for it is subject to heavy rains. Orotava, concerning which I gave Mr. Mapps some information for his lecture, is a much more desirable place; and one of these days, when a railroad is built to it, the citizens will live there in the summer, and do business in the city. We shall have an opportunity to visit the place.”