The villagers, too, avoided me; they were unwilling to be my guides upon the mountain.

I thought they looked at me askance, and I made sure that the more superstitious crossed themselves on my approach.

At first I set this down to my heretical opinions; but it began at length to dawn upon me that if I was thus redoubted it was because I had stayed at the residencia.

All men despise the savage notions of such peasantry; and yet I was conscious of a chill shadow that seemed to fall and dwell upon my love.

It did not conquer, but I may not deify that it restrained my ardour.
Some miles westward of the village there was a gap in the sierra, from which the eye plunged direct upon the residencia; and thither it became my daily habit to repair.