, and wealth ally
itself to wealth. Yes; Nisida will consult my felicity alone; and when I
ere now repeated her name as it fell from your lips, it was in a manner
reproachful to myself, because I have retained my love for thee a secret
from her. A secret from Nisida! Oh! I have been cruel, unjust, not to
have confided in my sister long ago! And yet," he added more slowly,
"she might reproach me for my selfishness in bestowing a thought on
marriage soon, so very soon, after a funeral! Flora, dearest maiden,
circumstances demand that the avowal which accident and opportunity have
led me this day to make, should exist as a secret, known only unto
yourself and me. But, in a few months I will explain all to my sister,
and she will greet thee as her brother's chosen bride. Are thou content,
Flora, that our mutual love should remain thus concealed until the
proper time shall come for its revelation?"

"Yes, my lord, and for many reasons," was the answer.

"For many reasons, Flora!" exclaimed the young count.

"At least for more than one," rejoined the maiden. "In the first
instance, it is expedient your lordship should have due leisure to
reflect upon the important step which you propose to take--a step
conferring so much honor on myself, but which may not insure your
happiness."

"If this be a specimen of thy reasons, dear maiden," exclaimed
Francisco, laughing, "I need hear no more. Be well assured," he added
seriously, "that time will not impair the love I experience for you."

Flora murmured a reply which did not reach Wagner, and immediately
afterward the sound of her light steps was heard retreating from the
adjacent room. A profound silence of a few minutes occurred; and then
Francisco also withdrew.

Wagner had been an unwilling listener to the preceding conversation; but
while it was in progress, he from time to time threw looks of love and
tenderness on his beautiful companion, who returned them with
impassioned ardor.

Whether it were that her irritable temper was impatient of the restraint
imposed upon herself and her lover by the vicinity of others, or whether
she was annoyed at the fact of her brother and Flora being so long
together (for Wagner had intimated to her who their neighbors were, the
moment he had recognized their voices), we cannot say; but Nisida showed
an occasional uneasiness of manner, which she, however, studied to
subdue as much as possible, during the scene that took place in the
adjo