TheBirthdayoftheInfantaItwasthebirthdayoftheInfanta.Shewasjusttwelveyearsofage，andthesunwasshiningbrightlyinthegardensofthepalace.AlthoughshewasarealPrincessandtheInfantaofSpain，shehadonlyonebirthdayeveryyear，justlikethechildrenofquitepoorpeople，soitwasnaturallyamatterofgreatimportancetothewholecountrythatsheshouldhaveareallylinedayfortheoccasion.Andareallylinedayitcertainlywas.Thetallstripedtulipsstoodstraightupupontheirstalks，likelongrowsofsoldiers，andlookeddefiantlyacrossthegrassattheroses，andsaid：Wearequiteassplendidasyouarenow.Thepurplebutterfliesflutteredaboutwithgolddustontheirwings，visitingeachflowerinturn；thelittlelizardscreptoutofthecrevicesofthewall，andlaybaskinginthewhiteglare；andthepomegranatessplitandcrackedwiththeheat，andshowedtheirbleedingredhearts.Eventhepaleyellowlemons，thathunginsuchprofusionfromthemoulderingtrellisandalongthedimarcades，seemedtohavecaughtarichercolourfromthewonderfulsunlight，andthemagnoliatreesopenedtheirgreatglobe-likeblossomsoffoldedivory，andfilledtheairwithasweetheavyperfume.ThelittlePrincessherselfwalkedupanddowntheterracewithhercompanions，andplayedathideandseekroundthestonevasesandtheoldmoss-grownstatues.Onordinarydaysshewasonlyallowedtoplaywithchildrenofherownrank，soshehadalwaystoplayalone，butherbirthdaywasanexception，andtheKinghadgivenordersthatshewastoinviteanyofheryoungfriendswhomshelikedtocomeandamusethemselveswithher.TherewasastatelygraceabouttheseslimSpanishchildrenastheyglidedabout，theboyswiththeirlarge-plumedhatsandshortflutteringcloaks，thegirlsholdingupthetrainsoftheirlongbrocadedgowns，andshieldingthesunfromtheireyeswithhugefansofblackandsilver.ButtheInfantawasthemostgracefulofall，andthemosttastefullyattired，afterthesomewhatcumbrousfashionoftheday.Herrobewasofgreysatin，theskirtandthewidepuffedsleevesheavilyembroideredwithsilver，andthestiffcorsetstuddedwithrowsoffinepearls.Twotinyslipperswithbigpinkrosettespeepedoutbeneathherdressasshewalked.Pinkandpearlwashergreatgauzefan，andinherhair，whichlikeanaureoleoffaded