hing for her. His words proved too
true. As we all stood round her bed, she entreated us to adhere firmly
to the faith in which we had been brought up; then, desiring us to go
out of the room, she had a conversation with my father on the same
subject, I suspect, for he seemed much moved when we again entered. As
daylight streamed into the room, she breathed her last.

We all felt her loss greatly, and poor Marian was so overwhelmed with
grief that we were in serious anxiety on her account.

In that latitude, burial rapidly follows death. It was a sore trial to
us to see her carried to her grave, which had been prepared in a
picturesque spot on the side of a hill not far from the house. Scarcely
had the coffin been lowered into it, when two priests arrived to perform
the burial-service. They appeared to be highly indignant that the
funeral should have taken place without their presence, and, from
expressions which they let drop, it was very evident that they looked
upon us all as a family of heretics. My father tried to pacify them,
however, and fancied that he had sent them away satisfied.

"Remember the warning I have given you," observed Don Antonio, as he
bade us goodbye. "Do not be deceived, even should the friars who may
come here appear to be on friendly terms; their object will be to betray
you."

It had been arranged that Uncle Paul and Arthur should return to the
town and attend to business next morning, while I was to remain with
poor Marian to try and comfort her.

Some time after dark, while we were all assembled in the sitting-room,
there was a knock at the door, and Arthur went out to see who had come
to visit us. He quickly returned with a note for my father in his hand,
which he said Don Antonio had sent by his black servant. It contained
merely the words, "Follow the advice I gave. It should on no account be
put off till to-morrow."

The negro having been sent back with a verbal message to the effect that
the prescription should be strictly followed, my father sat down, with
Uncle Paul and Arthur, to consider what was to be done.

"For myself," he said, "I have resolved to remain. I cannot throw away
the advantages I have gained; and circumstances, not my fault, will
compel me to conform to the religion of the country. But you and Arthur
may do as you think fit; and if you resolve to make your escape from the
island, I will send Guy and Marian with you--and Tim also, if he wishes
to