ere now, in the gallery of
pictures, I could not resist the favorable opportunity accident seemed
to have afforded for this avowal."

"Alas! my lord," murmured Flora, "I know not whether to rejoice or be
sorrowful at the revelation which has this day met my ears."

"And yet you said ere now that you could love me, that you did love me
in return," ejaculated Francisco.

"I spoke truly, my lord," answered the bashful maiden; "but, alas! how
can the humble, obscure, portionless Flora become the wife of the rich,
powerful and honored Count of Riverola? There is an inseparable gulf
fixed between us, my lord."

"Am I not my own master? Can I not consult my own happiness in that most
solemn and serious of the world's duties--marriage?" cried Francisco,
with all the generous ardor of youth and his own noble disposition.

"Your lordship is free and independent in point of fact," said Flora, in
a low, tender and yet impressive tone; "but your lordship has
relations--friends."

"My relations will not thwart the wishes of him whom they love,"
answered Francisco; "and those who place obstacles in the way of my
felicity cannot be denominated my friends."

"Oh! my lord--could I yield myself up to the hopes which your language
inspires!" cried Flora.

"You can--you may, dearest girl!" exclaimed the young count. "And now I
know that you love me! But many months must elapse ere I can call thee
mine; and, indeed, a remorse smites my heart that I have dared to think
of my own happiness, so soon after a mournful ceremony has consigned a
parent to the tomb. Heaven knows that I do not the less deplore his
loss--but wherefore art thou so pale, so trembling, Flora?"

"Meseems that a superstitious awe of evil omens has seized upon my
soul," returned the maiden, in a tremulous tone. "Let us retire, my
lord; the Lady Nisida may require my services elsewhere."

"Nisida!" repeated Francisco, as if the mention of his sister's name had
suddenly awakened new ideas in his mind.

"Ah! my lord," said Flora, sorrowfully, "you now perceive that there is
at least one who may not learn with satisfaction the alliance which your
lordship would form with the poor and humble dependent."

"Nay, by my patron saint, thou hast misunderstood me!" exclaimed the
young count warmly. "Nisida will not oppose her brother's happiness; and
her strong mind will know how to despise those conventional usages which
require that high birth should mate with high birth