CHAPTER PAGE I. THE CHRISTENING 1 II. SCHOOL-DAYS 10 III. A VISIT TO A HACIENDA 19 IV. AT THE ALHAMBRA 33 V. ANTONIO'S STORY 43 VI. THE HOLIDAYS 53 VII. EASTER IN SEVILLA 65 VIII. RAINY DAYS 74 IX. TO THE COUNTRY 87 X. GAMES AND SPORTS 96 XI. A TERTULIA 104 XII. VIVA EL REY! 117 List of Illustrations PAGE FERNANDO AND HIS DONKEY (_See page 60_) _Frontispiece_ "THE OWNER PULLED IT UP TO HER WINDOW AGAIN" 6 "THEY PLAYED HIDE AND SEEK THROUGH THE MARBLE HALLS" 40 "ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN WHO HAD SUCH ANIMALS DROVE THEM DOWN TO THE CHURCH TO BE BLESSED" 60 "THEIR BODIES SWAYED TO AND FRO IN TIME TO THE MUSIC" 71 "THEY WENT TO THE ALCAZAR GARDENS" 84 Our Little Spanish Cousin CHAPTER I. THE CHRISTENING ONE of the first things which Fernando remembered was the christening of his little sister. He was five years old and had no other brother or sister to play with, for Pablo, his wonderful big brother, was away at the Naval School, and his older sister, Augustia, was at school in the convent. When Fernando's nurse told him that he had a little sister he was delighted, and begged to see her; and when all his relatives on both sides of the house came to see the baby christened, he was still more pleased. Fernando was a little Spanish boy, and in his country a great deal is thought of kinsfolk, for the Spanish are very warm-hearted and affectionate. So Fernando was glad to see all his aunts and uncles and cousins and all the friends who happened to be visiting them at the time. Fernando's father, the Señor Don Juan de Guzman, was a courtly gentleman, and he bowed low over the ladies' hands, and said, "The house is yours, señora!" to each one; so, as boys generally copy their fathers, Fernando assured his little cousins that he "placed himself at their feet," and welcomed them just as politely as his father had the older folk.