lingering steps and downcast eyes spoke not of
happiness,--and with fear and sorrow Hiorba leaned against the altar
which supported her statue. At length the sisters reached the place and
rushed sobbing into each other's arms.

'My sufferings have reached their utmost limit!' exclaimed Aliande.

'My last hope is annihilated!' sighed Daura.

'How ineffably miserable,' said Aliande, 'has our good mother's last
gift made me! With almost every change of the moon does the warning
voice of my magic clock rend my poor betrayed heart. My fatal mirror is
constantly reflecting new faces which seldom indicate delicate feminine
charms, never mental elevation. All my tears have hitherto been able to
obtain but empty promises of amendment from the faithless one; and my
just reproaches only exasperate him. To-day I see the hated features of
my last waiting maid, the light and impudent Rosa! No, I will bear
these mortifications, these repeated insults, no longer!'

'Ah, how much more miserable am I, good sister!' sobbed Daura. 'It was
but the intoxication of the senses which led Idallan to my arms; and in
addition to my other sorrows I now feel that he has never, never loved
me. The first week of our honey-moon had scarcely passed when he found
himself annoyed by the gentle tones of my flute, which, against his
will, moderated the severity of his fierce disposition. In a confiding
moment, after he had successfully feigned the tenderest affection, he
succeeded in drawing from me the secret of the maternal gift. With
pleasant jests and agreeable trifling he unwound the chain from my
neck; but no sooner was the delicate instrument in his hands, than his
brow became clouded, his eyes flashed with an unnatural fire, and with
a voice of thunder he denounced me as a vile sorceress who had
disgraced his knightly bed. Then with furious rage he dashed the flute
to the earth. Yet once more were heard its soft and tranquilizing
tones. Too late! Idallan's foot was already raised, and trampling it in
his anger, he annihilated its sweet melody forever. What, what have I
not suffered since that unhappy hour!....'

'His heart is depraved--forget him!' cried Hiorba, stepping visibly
between the sisters, who threw themselves at her feet in glad surprise.

'You both decided too rashly!' continued the weeping foster-mother. 'I
warned you in vain. In vain did I entreat permission to prove your
lovers. The evil is done,--and requires help, not reproach