was completed; and grinding her teeth with
demoniac rage, she threw the manuscript upon the floor. But at the same
moment her eyes, which she cast wildly about her, caught the mild and
benign countenance of her mother's portrait; and, as oil stills the fury
of the boiling billows, did the influence of that picture calm in an
instant the tremendous emotions of Nisida's soul.

Tears burst from her eyes, and she suddenly relapsed from the incarnate
fiend into the subdued woman.

Then stooping down, she picked up the papers that lay scattered on the
floor: but as she did so she averted her looks, with loathing and
disgust, as much as possible from the pages that her hands collected
almost at random.

And now another idea struck her--an idea the propriety of which
evidently warred against her inclination.

She was not a woman of mere impulses--although she often acted speedily
after a thought had entered her brain. But she was wondrously quick at
weighing all reasons for or against the suggestions of her imagination;
and thus, to any one who was not acquainted with her character, she
might frequently appear to obey the first dictates of her impetuous
passions.

Scarcely three minutes after the new idea had struck her, her resolution
was fixed.

Once more concealing the papers in her bosom, she repaired with the lamp
to her brother's room--purloined the key a second time--hastened to the
chamber of death--opened the closet again--and again sustained the shock
of a single glance at its horrors, as she returned the manuscript to the
place whence she had originally taken it.

Then, having once more retraced her way to Francisco's chamber, she
restored the key to the folds of his doublet--for he continued to sleep
soundly; and Nisida succeeded in regaining her own apartments just in
time to avoid the observation of the domestics, who were now beginning
to move about.

Nisida sought her couch and slept until nearly ten o'clock, when she
awoke with a start--doubtless caused by some unpleasant dream.

Having ascertained the hour by reference to a water-clock, or clepsydra,
which stood on a marble pedestal near the head of the bed, she
arose--unlocked the door of her apartment--rang a silver bell--and then
returned to her bed.

In a few minutes Flora, who had been waiting in the adjoining room,
entered the chamber.

Nisida, on regaining her couch, had turned her face toward the wall, and
was therefore unable to perceiv