ept Nisida;
and when the chaste advent of the moon bathed all in silver, as the sun
had for twelve hours steeped all in gold, the beams of the goddess of
the night played on her charming countenance without awakening her. The
raven masses of her hair lay upon her flushed cheeks like midnight on a
bed of roses, her long black lashes reposed on those cheeks, so
surpassingly lovely with their rich carnation hues. For she dreamt of
Fernand; and her vision was a happy one. Imagination played wild tricks
with the shipwrecked, lonely lady, as if to recompense her for the
waking realities of her sad position. She thought that she was reposing
in the delicious valley which she had explored in the afternoon--she
thought that Fernand was her companion--that she lay in his arms--that
his lips pressed hers--that she was all to him as he was all to her, and
that love's cup of enjoyment was full to the very brim.

But, oh! when she slowly awoke, and under the influence of the
delightful vision, raised her eyes in the dewy light of voluptuous
languor to the blue sky above her, the sunbeams that were heralding in
another day cruelly dispelled the enchanting illusions of a warm and
excited fancy, and Nisida found herself alone on the sea-shore of the
island.

Thus the glory of that sunrise had no charms for her; although never had
the orb of day come forth with greater pomp, nor to shine on a lovelier
scene. No words can convey an idea of the rapid development of every
feature in the landscape, the deeper and deepening tint of the glowing
sky, the roseate hue of the mountain-peaks as they stood out against the
cloudless orient, and the rich emerald shades of the woods sparkling
with fruit. The fragrant rose and the chaste lily, the blushing peony
and the gaudy tulip, and all the choicest flowers of that delicious
clime, expanded into renewed loveliness to greet the sun: and the citron
and the orange, the melon and the grape, the pomegranate and the date
drank in the yellow light to nourish their golden hues.

Nisida's eyes glanced rapidly over the vast expanse of waters, and swept
the horizon: but there was not a sail, nor even a cloud which
imagination might transform into the white wing of a distant ship. And
now upon the golden sand the lovely Nisida put off her garments one by
one: and set at liberty the dark masses of her shining hair, which
floated like an ample veil of raven blackness over the dazzling
whiteness of her skin. Im