his assistance.

We found, on our arrival, that our father, unhappily, had not been
alarmed without reason. Our poor mother was dangerously ill, and the
physician gave us but slight hopes of her recovery. He was necessitated
to return at once to the town, but he promised to be back the next day.

Our mother rallied greatly, and when Don Antonio again appeared she
seemed to be much better. He, however, looked so grave, that on his
following Arthur and me into the sitting-room, we expected to hear him
express an unfavourable opinion of her case. But after looking about to
see that none of the servants were within hearing, he closed the door,
and said in a low voice:--

"It is not on account of your mother's health that I am anxious, but for
your sakes, my friends. You are supposed to be rank heretics; and I
have received information that unless you forthwith attend mass, go to
confession, and in all respects conform to the obligations of the
Catholic faith, the Inquisition intends to lay hands on you, and to
punish you severely as a warning to others. Even should your father
conform, he will be unable to shield you, and you will be equally liable
to punishment. If you will be advised by me, unless you are prepared to
adopt the religion of the country, you will, without delay, make your
escape to some part of the sea-coast remote from the capital, where you
may get on board a vessel bound to one of the neighbouring islands or
elsewhere. You know not the fearful punishment to which you may be
subjected, should you once fall into the hands of the Inquisition; and
though I myself run the risk of losing my liberty, not to speak of other
consequences, by thus warning you, I could not find it in my heart to
leave without doing so."

We warmly thanked our kind friend for the advice he had given us, and he
repeated what he had said to our father, who shortly afterwards came
into the room; but at the time he made no remark, though he was
evidently greatly agitated.

Scarcely had Don Antonio gone when my mother appeared to grow much
worse; and Arthur, throwing himself on horseback, galloped off as hard
as his horse could go to bring him back. We anxiously waited his return
with the physician, for every moment my mother grew worse and worse.
How thankful we were when Don Antonio arrived; but no sooner had he felt
her pulse, than, calling my father out of the room, he told him that she
was dying, and that he could do not