The Prime Minister
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at your son's command; and I mustcrave your pardon that I at first refused the proffered honour."
"My sweet daughter, you have made me most happy," exclaimed theMarchioness, folding her in an affectionate embrace. "My beloved son,on whom you know every sentiment of my heart is placed, will hasten tothrow himself at your feet; but say, my fair child, when you will crownhis joy, by bestowing that hand he prizes so much?"
"I would petition for a short delay," returned the lovely girl; "let theday be in November next: he will not have long to wait; and it is butshort time to prepare to quit a home where I have spent the few happydays of my life, and for the future, alas! oh, may Heaven protect me!"The last part of the sentence was uttered rather to herself than aloud,nor did the Marchioness attend to the words.
"I will not, at present, urge you to fix an earlier time, though I wouldhave wished it sooner; but perhaps my son may have more influence," saidthe Marqueza, smiling. "I must now go to relieve his mind of theanxiety which oppresses it, and before long, expect your lovingbridegroom here." Saying which, the Marchioness of Tavora arose, and,embracing the young lady, she quitted the apartment with the samestately dignity with which she had entered, attended, with the utmostrespect, by the retinue of maidens who waited on their young mistress.
We scarce dare describe the thoughts of the bride elect, of that youngand lovely creature who seemed formed for virtue and happiness alone.She hastened to the open window to seek fresher air, for that in theroom oppressed her, she thought, and stood gazing, with dilated eye, onthe pure blue, calm sky, so contrasted with the agitation of her bosom."Alas! for what am I prepared?" she exclaimed; "what a dark gulf do Isee yawning beneath my feet, which no human power can aid me tooverleap. Could I summon courage, I might yet escape; but then howblank and desolate would my heart become! No! I could part withhappiness, rank, wealth, all the world esteems; but I cannot yield uplove. Ah, why should I tremble or hesitate? Have not others done thesame? and without risk, how can power and greatness be obtained? Andyet, oh, heavens! I wish it had been otherwise."
Thus giving utterance to broken and disjointed sentences, in a toneoften of despair and grief, her small delicate hands clasped together,she continued at the window for some minutes. Again she was silent,when what sounded more like an hysterical laugh than one of joy brokefrom her lips. "It were destruction to turn back now," she cried; "and,my young lord marquis, I am your most humble bride. Begone, fromhenceforth, all vain foolish fears and regrets, which gaiety will easilydissipate." She turned quickly round with a smiling countenance, forshe heard a footstep approaching, thinking it was one of her femaleattendants; but she started suddenly at seeing, instead, the tall figureof a young and handsome cavalier, advancing rapidly towards her with theintention, it appeared by his gestures, of saluting her on the cheekwithout waiting for permission, had she not drawn back with anexpression of anger in her countenance, and, throwing herself into achair, coldly held out her hand. The movement had the effect, as bymagic, of arresting the young man in his headlong career. He gazed ather for some time, without uttering a syllable, with a steady, mournful,and surprised look. "Can it be possible that I am so changed, during anabsence but of two years, that you know me not?" he at length exclaimed."I cannot, dare not, believe that Donna Theresa would thus cruelly havebehaved, had she known me."
"Oh, I know you perfectly, my good cousin," answered the young lady;"nor do I perceive that you are in the slightest degree changed from theboisterous, forward youth you were when you set out on your travels, ifI may judge by the unceremonious way in which you forced yourself intomy private apartments."
The young cavalier gazed at her with amazement, while a look of pain, orwe may say rather of agony, crossed his handsome features. "Do I heararight," he exclaimed passionately, "or am I in some horrid dream? Yetmethought all was reality till I entered here; but now I cannot, darenot believe my senses."
"You appear to me to be perfectly awake, Don Luis; nor do I wish you onany account to believe otherwise. Look round this room; the tapestry,the hangings, the furniture are the same; nor am I very much altered inappearance since the time you quitted Portugal. Your own extravagantexpectations are alone not realised." She spoke in a tone half ofbanter and half serious,--"Come, come, my good cousin, lay aside, forHeaven's sake, that tragic air, more suited to the stage than to privatesociety, and tell me to what cause I am indebted for this sudden visitfrom one I thought was basking in the sunny smiles of the fair beautiesof England."
"Can you, Theresa, can you ask such a question?" exclaimed the youngCavalier, (in whom our readers may recognise Don Luis d'Almeida,) withgrief and tenderness in his tone. "Does not your heart tell you thatyou were the first person I should fly to see on my return to my nativeland--that you were the magnet which has drawn me hither?"
"You do me too much honour," answered Donna Theresa, coldly; "but Ishould have supposed your filial affections would have prompted youfirst to throw yourself at your father's feet before you took thetrouble of paying your respects to your numerous cousins, howeverintimate you may have been with them in your boyish days."
"Your words are but cold, heartless mockery to my feelings," answeredDon Luis, vehemently. "Have you so soon forgotten our mutual vows oflove and constancy, which Heaven recorded to stand as indeliblewitnesses against either who should be guilty of perfidy? Have youforgotten our troth, plighted in the sight of God, which none butourselves can annul, with his just curse on the one who causes it to bebroken? Were all my vows and protestations of love and attachmentlooked upon as mere empty words, which the passing breath of summermight blow away? Have a few months of absence served to wither what wasonce so fair and lovely? No, no, it is impossible! Say, did you neverlove me? Was I deceived from the first? Was my love considered but asa plaything to amuse, till some more glittering toy presented itself toattract your attention?"
"You overwhelm me with the rapidity and multiplicity of your questions,Senhor," answered Donna Theresa; "I can scarcely comprehend your longspeech about love and constancy, and your violence frightens me.However, I will make due allowance for the uncouth manners you haveacquired among the islanders, in whose territories you have beentravelling, and will try to answer you to the best of my abilities. Icertainly do recollect that, in our childish days, we were foolishenough to make some absurd promise to each other, which I no more holdas binding than any other act made by infants; besides, I have receivedabsolution for any such deeds on my part, though I do remember you madea great many strange oaths and protestations, which I now considerhighly improper; therefore, pray let me ask you, Senhor, by whatauthority you put these questions, not very complimentary, in truth, tome?"
"Great Heavens! can you expect me to remain calmly before you, while Ilisten to such words? You ask me by what authority I thus speak. Byyour own expressions when we parted; by your last fond embrace; by myown ardent, devoted love, which has not for one moment, by thought ordeed, proved disloyal; your vows, protestations, tears, and sighs,--they, they give me authority to speak."
"Holy Mary, you frighten me with your vehemence!" exclaimed the younglady, raising her hands to hide her countenance; "I thought you had morewisdom than thus to make yourself appear ridiculous. Have I not beforesaid, that people, when they grow up, are not to be answerable for allthe folly and nonsense they may have committed in their childish days;then why insist on what no girl of sense can allow?"
"Say no more, Donna Theresa, say no more," cried Don Luis; "I were dullindeed not to comprehend your meaning. You have drawn aside the veilwhich shrouded my eyes; for I had thought that an inconstant andtreacherous heart could not dwell within a form so lovely, so gracefulas yours; but now, alas! what a hideous spectacle is laid bare to mysight! Donna Theresa, you have much to answer for to your sex. Youhave been the first to shake my faith in the innate purity and virtue ofwoman; for I supposed all who were so beauteous in form, must possessnatures equally fair and adorable; but from henceforth, for your sake,can
I place confidence in no one."
"Senhor, you are growing insolent," exclaimed the lady, rising from herseat, with an angry spot on her lovely brow; "you presume too much onour relationship and childish friendship, when you dare utterexpressions like these, which no cavalier should venture to make use ofbefore a lady."
Don Luis drew a step nearer, as if not understanding her lastobservation. "It is impossible that I am really awake!" he exclaimed,with deep passion. "A few fleeting months could not so alter DonnaTheresa's tender, loving nature, as to make her, with cold, callousindifference, inflict so cruel, so bitter a wound on a heart which hasthus faithfully adored her. No