The Bible in Spain, Vol. 2 [of 2]: Or, the Journeys, Adventures, and Imprisonments of an Englishman in an Attempt to Circulate the Scriptures in the PeninsulaBorrow, George
Religion
The Bible in Spain, Vol. 2 [of 2]: Or, the Journeys, Adventures, and Imprisonments of an Englishman in an Attempt to Circulate the Scriptures in the Peninsula
Borrow, George
Borrow, George, 1803-1881 -- Travel -- Spain; Spain -- Description and travel; Spain -- History -- 19th century
Crossing the _soc_, we entered a narrow street with the same kind of
box-shops on each side, some of which, however, were either unoccupied or
not yet opened, the lid being closed. We almost immediately turned to
the left, up a street somewhat similar, and my guide presently entered
the door of a low house which stood at the corner of a little alley, and
which he informed me was the abode of Joanna Correa. We soon stood in
the midst of this habitation. I say the midst, as all the Moorish houses
are built with a small court in the middle. This one was not more than
ten feet square. It was open at the top, and around it on three sides
were apartments: on the fourth a small staircase, which communicated with
the upper story, half of which consisted of a terrace looking down into
the court, over the low walls of which you enjoyed a prospect of the sea
and a considerable part of the town. The rest of the story was taken up
by a long room, destined for myself, and which opened upon the terrace by
a pair of folding-doors. At either end of this apartment stood a bed,
extending transversely from wall to wall, the canopy touching the
ceiling. A table and two or three chairs completed the furniture.
I was so occupied in inspecting the house of Joanna Correa, that at first
I paid little attention to that lady herself. She now, however, came up
upon the terrace where my guide and myself were standing. She was a
woman about five and forty, with regular features, which had once been
handsome, but had received considerable injury from time, and perhaps
more from trouble. Two of her front teeth had disappeared, but she still
had fine black hair. As I looked upon her countenance, I said within
myself, if there be truth in physiognomy, thou art good and gentle, O
Joanna; and, indeed, the kindness I experienced from her during the six
weeks which I spent beneath her roof would have made me a convert to that
science had I doubted in it before. I believe no warmer and more
affectionate heart ever beat in human bosom than in that of Joanna
Correa, the Mahonese widow, and it was indexed by features beaming with
benevolence and good nature, though somewhat clouded with melancholy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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