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the birthday of the infanta-µÚ1½Ú

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THE¡¡BIRTHDAY¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡INFANTA



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It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡birthday¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Infanta¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡just¡¡twelve¡¡years¡¡of

age£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡shining¡¡brightly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gardens¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡£



Although¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡real¡¡Princess¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Infanta¡¡of¡¡Spain£»¡¡she¡¡had

only¡¡one¡¡birthday¡¡every¡¡year£»¡¡just¡¡like¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡quite¡¡poor

people£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡naturally¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡great¡¡importance¡¡to¡¡the

whole¡¡country¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡have¡¡a¡¡really¡¡fine¡¡day¡¡for¡¡the

occasion¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡a¡¡really¡¡fine¡¡day¡¡it¡¡certainly¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tall

striped¡¡tulips¡¡stood¡¡straight¡¡up¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡stalks£»¡¡like¡¡long¡¡rows

of¡¡soldiers£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡defiantly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡at¡¡the¡¡roses£»

and¡¡said£º¡¡¡¡'We¡¡are¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡splendid¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are¡¡now¡£'¡¡¡¡The¡¡purple

butterflies¡¡fluttered¡¡about¡¡with¡¡gold¡¡dust¡¡on¡¡their¡¡wings£»¡¡visiting

each¡¡flower¡¡in¡¡turn£»¡¡the¡¡little¡¡lizards¡¡crept¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crevices

of¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡basking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡white¡¡glare£»¡¡and¡¡the

pomegranates¡¡split¡¡and¡¡cracked¡¡with¡¡the¡¡heat£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡their

bleeding¡¡red¡¡hearts¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡pale¡¡yellow¡¡lemons£»¡¡that¡¡hung¡¡in

such¡¡profusion¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mouldering¡¡trellis¡¡and¡¡along¡¡the¡¡dim

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sunlight£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡magnolia¡¡trees¡¡opened¡¡their¡¡great¡¡globe¡­like

blossoms¡¡of¡¡folded¡¡ivory£»¡¡and¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sweet¡¡heavy

perfume¡£



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companions£»¡¡and¡¡played¡¡at¡¡hide¡¡and¡¡seek¡¡round¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡vases¡¡and

the¡¡old¡¡moss¡­grown¡¡statues¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡ordinary¡¡days¡¡she¡¡was¡¡only¡¡allowed

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orders¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡to¡¡invite¡¡any¡¡of¡¡her¡¡young¡¡friends¡¡whom¡¡she

liked¡¡to¡¡come¡¡and¡¡amuse¡¡themselves¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stately

grace¡¡about¡¡these¡¡slim¡¡Spanish¡¡children¡¡as¡¡they¡¡glided¡¡about£»¡¡the

boys¡¡with¡¡their¡¡large¡­plumed¡¡hats¡¡and¡¡short¡¡fluttering¡¡cloaks£»¡¡the

girls¡¡holding¡¡up¡¡the¡¡trains¡¡of¡¡their¡¡long¡¡brocaded¡¡gowns£»¡¡and

shielding¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡from¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡with¡¡huge¡¡fans¡¡of¡¡black¡¡and

silver¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Infanta¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡graceful¡¡of¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡most

tastefully¡¡attired£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡somewhat¡¡cumbrous¡¡fashion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡£

Her¡¡robe¡¡was¡¡of¡¡grey¡¡satin£»¡¡the¡¡skirt¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡puffed¡¡sleeves

heavily¡¡embroidered¡¡with¡¡silver£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stiff¡¡corset¡¡studded¡¡with

rows¡¡of¡¡fine¡¡pearls¡£¡¡¡¡Two¡¡tiny¡¡slippers¡¡with¡¡big¡¡pink¡¡rosettes

peeped¡¡out¡¡beneath¡¡her¡¡dress¡¡as¡¡she¡¡walked¡£¡¡¡¡Pink¡¡and¡¡pearl¡¡was¡¡her

great¡¡gauze¡¡fan£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hair£»¡¡which¡¡like¡¡an¡¡aureole¡¡of¡¡faded

gold¡¡stood¡¡out¡¡stiffly¡¡round¡¡her¡¡pale¡¡little¡¡face£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a

beautiful¡¡white¡¡rose¡£



From¡¡a¡¡window¡¡in¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡the¡¡sad¡¡melancholy¡¡King¡¡watched¡¡them¡£

Behind¡¡him¡¡stood¡¡his¡¡brother£»¡¡Don¡¡Pedro¡¡of¡¡Aragon£»¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡hated£»

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side¡£¡¡¡¡Sadder¡¡even¡¡than¡¡usual¡¡was¡¡the¡¡King£»¡¡for¡¡as¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the

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laughing¡¡behind¡¡her¡¡fan¡¡at¡¡the¡¡grim¡¡Duchess¡¡of¡¡Albuquerque¡¡who

always¡¡accompanied¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡Queen£»¡¡her¡¡mother£»

who¡¡but¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time¡¡before¡¡¡­¡¡so¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡¡­¡¡had¡¡come¡¡from

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old¡¡gnarled¡¡fig¡­tree¡¡that¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡now¡¡grass¡­

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and¡¡her¡¡body¡¡was¡¡still¡¡lying¡¡on¡¡its¡¡tapestried¡¡bier¡¡in¡¡the¡¡black

marble¡¡chapel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Palace£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡monks¡¡had¡¡borne¡¡her¡¡in¡¡on

that¡¡windy¡¡March¡¡day¡¡nearly¡¡twelve¡¡years¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡every¡¡month

the¡¡King£»¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡cloak¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡muffled¡¡lantern¡¡in¡¡his

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cold¡¡painted¡¡face¡£



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she¡¡still¡¡younger¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡been¡¡formally¡¡betrothed¡¡on¡¡that

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all¡¡the¡¡Court£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Escurial¡¡bearing¡¡with¡¡him

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be¡¡burned¡£



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his¡¡country£»¡¡then¡¡at¡¡war¡¡with¡¡England¡¡for¡¡the¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡the

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out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sight£»¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡forgotten£»¡¡or¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have

forgotten£»¡¡all¡¡grave¡¡affairs¡¡of¡¡State£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡that¡¡terrible

blindness¡¡that¡¡passion¡¡brings¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡servants£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡to

notice¡¡that¡¡the¡¡elaborate¡¡ceremonies¡¡by¡¡which¡¡he¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡please

her¡¡did¡¡but¡¡aggravate¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡malady¡¡from¡¡which¡¡she¡¡suffered¡£

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Indeed£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡formally¡¡abdicated

and¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Trappist¡¡monastery¡¡at¡¡Granada£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he

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little¡¡Infanta¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡brother£»¡¡whose¡¡cruelty£»¡¡even¡¡in

Spain£»¡¡was¡¡notorious£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡was¡¡suspected¡¡by¡¡many¡¡of¡¡having

caused¡¡the¡¡Queen's¡¡death¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡poisoned¡¡gloves¡¡that

he¡¡had¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡her¡¡on¡¡the¡¡occasion¡¡of¡¡her¡¡visiting¡¡his¡¡castle

in¡¡Aragon¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡after¡¡the¡¡expiration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡years¡¡of¡¡public

mourning¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ordained¡¡throughout¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡dominions¡¡by

royal¡¡edict£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡suffer¡¡his¡¡ministers¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡about¡¡any

new¡¡alliance£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡¡himself¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡offered

him¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lovely¡¡Archduchess¡¡of¡¡Bohemia£»¡¡his¡¡niece£»¡¡in

marriage£»¡¡he¡¡bade¡¡the¡¡ambassadors¡¡tell¡¡their¡¡master¡¡that¡¡the¡¡King

of¡¡Spain¡¡was¡¡already¡¡wedded¡¡to¡¡Sorrow£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡though¡¡she¡¡was¡¡but

a¡¡barren¡¡bride¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡her¡¡better¡¡than¡¡Beauty£»¡¡an¡¡answer¡¡that¡¡cost

his¡¡crown¡¡the¡¡rich¡¡provinces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Netherlands£»¡¡which¡¡soon¡¡after£»

at¡¡the¡¡Emperor's¡¡instigation£»¡¡revolted¡¡against¡¡him¡¡under¡¡the

leadership¡¡of¡¡some¡¡fanatics¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Reformed¡¡Church¡£



His¡¡whole¡¡married¡¡life£»¡¡with¡¡its¡¡fierce£»¡¡fiery¡­coloured¡¡joys¡¡and

the¡¡terrible¡¡agony¡¡of¡¡its¡¡sudden¡¡ending£»¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡come¡¡back¡¡to¡¡him

to¡­day¡¡as¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡Infanta¡¡playing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡terrace¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had

all¡¡the¡¡Queen's¡¡pretty¡¡petulance¡¡of¡¡manner£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡wilful¡¡way¡¡of

tossing¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡proud¡¡curved¡¡beautiful¡¡mouth£»¡¡the¡¡same

wonderful¡¡smile¡¡¡­¡¡VRAI¡¡SOURIRE¡¡DE¡¡FRANCE¡¡indeed¡¡¡­¡¡as¡¡she¡¡glanced¡¡up

now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡or¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡her¡¡little¡¡hand¡¡for

the¡¡stately¡¡Spanish¡¡gentlemen¡¡to¡¡kiss¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡shrill¡¡laughter¡¡of

the¡¡children¡¡grated¡¡on¡¡his¡¡ears£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡pitiless¡¡sunlight

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looked¡¡up¡¡again¡¡the¡¡curtains¡¡had¡¡been¡¡drawn£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡King¡¡had

retired¡£



She¡¡made¡¡a¡¡little¡¡MOUE¡¡of¡¡disappointment£»¡¡and¡¡shrugged¡¡her

shoulders¡£¡¡¡¡Surely¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡stayed¡¡with¡¡her¡¡on¡¡her¡¡birthday¡£

What¡¡did¡¡the¡¡stupid¡¡State¡­affairs¡¡matter£¿¡¡¡¡Or¡¡had¡¡he¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡that

gloomy¡¡chapel£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡candles¡¡were¡¡always¡¡burning£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡she

was¡¡never¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡enter£¿¡¡¡¡How¡¡silly¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was

shining¡¡so¡¡brightly£»¡¡and¡¡everybody¡¡was¡¡so¡¡happy£¡¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡he¡¡would

miss¡¡the¡¡sham¡¡bull¡­fight¡¡for¡¡which¡¡the¡¡trumpet¡¡was¡¡already

sounding£»¡¡to¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡puppet¡­show¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡wonderful

things¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡uncle¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Grand¡¡Inquisitor¡¡were¡¡much¡¡more

sensible¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡come¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡terrace£»¡¡and¡¡paid¡¡her¡¡nice

compliments¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡she¡¡tossed¡¡her¡¡pretty¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡Don¡¡Pedro

by¡¡the¡¡hand£»¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡slowly¡¡down¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡towards¡¡a¡¡long

pavilion¡¡of¡¡purple¡¡silk¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡erected¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the

garden£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡children¡¡following¡¡in¡¡strict¡¡order¡¡of¡¡precedence£»

those¡¡who¡¡had¡¡the¡¡longest¡¡names¡¡going¡¡first¡£





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