One custom of the Holy Week should be here
noticed. These humildes, or penitentes, are men who
have openly sinned, and desire to join in this pro-
cession barefoot as an act of humiliation. As soon as
the procession has dispersed, they take handfiils of
flowers, and, going to the windows of the houses
around, they knock for an audience, of course pulling
the black cowl over their faces before so doing. They
proffer the flowers to some girl they care for, and, as
she cannot see them, Spanish etiquette votes it quite
allowable for her to converse with them at the barred
window. Then they return, next day, to another
procession or no, just as they will. The reason of
this proceeding is as follows. Each penitente has
been a peccador, a sinner, and, as such, is unworthy
of the society of women who are pure and good ; but.
240 SPANISH BLACK COUNTRY,

having walked once barefoot and in sackcloth, and
once in mourning gaberdine, he considers that he has,
as it were, paid his dues to God and his Church, and
is jfree to love and be loved again.
