bred from infancy in their service, had not an idea beyond. She took every thing under her own direction. A small part only of the house was attempted to be made habitable—a small part only of the garden to be cultivated, and that soon became an important branch of their domestic economy. Their honey and grapes, from the care bestowed on each, found a market at the town, which was a few leagues distant. They were equally fortunate in their wine; and the lamentations of Pedro and Marcela over the downfal of their master's house, mixed with a few hints of its degradation, were lost in the silent conviction of the real comfort attendant on these new plans.
With two especial difficulties Beatrice had to contend. The first was, to induce old servants to believe that a young mistress could know better than themselves: and this was an obstacle nothing but a temper as sweet as it was firm could have overcome. The other was, to reconcile Donna Margaretta to the loss of accustomed luxuries. Like a child, she attached the idea of punishment to privation. The loss of the embroidered cover to her chair, and the beautiful cup for her chocolate, and the wearing a coarse dress, were subjects of bitter
