a true heart? You
see in me only the grave, elderly man who wants you for his wife, and
therefore you reject him. But, Carmen, under this calm exterior you
will find an ardent lover, who desires to win you, that he may make for
you a heaven on earth, and fill your life with such unutterable bliss
as you have never dreamed of. Oh, Carmen, do not say me nay; but lay
your lovely head upon my breast, and believe that my heart throbs
wildly and deeply for you only. Look in my eyes, and let the love you
read there serve to kindle a like feeling in you. Have you forgotten
that we must love one another, we Brothers and Sisters? Give me your
love, then, my darling, and say you will be mine!"

Rendered powerless to move by his pitiless embrace, she seemed like a
little bird doomed to death by the irresistible fascination of a
serpent. Quickly, passionately, his hot breath scorching her bloodless
lips, he kissed her again and again. With a sudden powerful effort she
tore herself from his arms, retreated a few steps, and turning on him a
countenance ablaze with scorn and indignation, she cried:

"Back, villain! How dare you venture to insult me thus? Approach one
step nearer, and I will cry out so that heaven and earth will fly to my
succor."

She stood before him, so proud and haughty, so intensely excited, that
he dared not venture farther.

"I will not approach you again, Carmen, if it displeases you; and
forgive my violence just now," he pleaded earnestly. "But promise to
give yourself to me, Carmen; you are not by nature cold; you will, you
must return my love. Let me teach you what real happiness is; you may
imagine it, but you cannot come near the reality."

The girl was silent; this antipathy to Jonathan was as old as her
memory. In Jamaica he had been an object of aversion to her, yet she
could give no definite reason for this deeply-rooted dislike. Every
one spoke so highly of him that she often blamed herself for not
feeling more kindly towards one who enjoyed the respect and esteem of
the whole community. His piety and temperate habits, his humility and
devotion to his work, were conspicuous even here. Of late, he had been
particularly friendly towards Carmen, which seemed a very natural
thing, he having been such an old friend of her father's. But his
increased kindness only awoke a greater dislike in the girl, so that
she tried in every way to escape an avowal from him of his feelings.
She did n