of it, oppressed me like
guilt. I blamed myself besides for my suspicions of the night before;
wondered that I should ever have attributed those shocking cries to one
of whom I now conceived as of a saint, spectral of mien, wasted with
maceration, bound up in the practices of a mechanical devotion, and
dwelling in a great isolation of soul with her incongruous relatives; and
as I leaned on the balustrade of the gallery and looked down into the
bright close of pomegranates and at the gaily dressed and somnolent
woman, who just then stretched herself and delicately licked her lips as
in the very sensuality of sloth, my mind swiftly compared the scene with
the cold chamber looking northward on the mountains, where the daughter
dwelt.

That same afternoon, as I sat upon my knoll, I saw the Padre enter the
gates of the residencia. The revelation of the daughter's character had
struck home to my fancy, and almost blotted out the horrors of the night
before; but at sight of this worthy man the memory revived. I descended,
then, from the knoll, and making a circuit among the woods, posted myself
by the wayside to await his passage. As soon as he appeared I stepped
forth and introduced myself as the lodger of the residencia. He had a
very strong, honest countenance, on which it was easy to read the mingled
emotions with which he regarded me, as a foreigner, a heretic, and yet
one who had been wounded for the good cause. Of the family at the
residencia he spoke with reserve, and yet with respect. I mentioned that
I had not yet seen the daughter, whereupon he remarked that that was as
it should be, and looked at me a little askance. Lastly, I plucked up
courage to refer to the cries that had disturbed me in the night. He
heard me out in silence, and then stopped and partly turned about, as
though to mark beyond doubt that he was dismissing me.

'Do you take tobacco powder?' said he, offering his snuff-box; and then,
when I had refused, 'I am an old man,' he added, 'and I may be allowed to
remind you that you are a guest.'

'I have, then, your authority,' I returned, firmly enough, although I
flushed at the implied reproof, 'to let things take their course, and not
to interfere?'

He said 'yes,' and with a somewhat uneasy salute turned and left me where
I was. But he had done two things: he had set my conscience at rest, and
he had awakened my delicacy. I made a great effort, once more dismissed
the recollections of