the vicinity, than on the arrival of this family. "Who were they? Where did they come from? How many of them were there? What furniture had they? What were their circumstances? What was their reason for leaving their last abode? What was the cause of their selecting such a residence as that? How old were they? Was the young man their son, or was he the daughter's husband? Had any children lived and died between the ages of the daughter and the active little boy? And—were the two youngest of the family twins or no?" Such were the inquiries and surmises industriously set afloat among the considerate neighbours; and the less able they were to satisfy themselves on these topics, the more was their curiosity whetted and excited.
Had the de Bogotas been in absolute poverty and distress, few questions and little interest would have been produced on their behalf; but as the case stood, there was something rather "respectable" and superior about them which made it all very interesting. A little tailor over the way, and a female tortilla cake baker, who lived in his court-yard, were both thrown into a perfect fever of conjecture
