Gomez Arias clasped her fondly to his breast, and in the transports of
his joy, endeavoured to draw a glowing picture of their future
happiness.

"My dearest Theodora, hush your apprehensions and unreasonable fears. At
the first opportunity we marry. Your father will at last relent, and
even if he should prove deaf to the appeal of nature, the love and
gratitude of Gomez Arias will supply the loss."

"Oh that is my only consolation," she interrupted with eagerness. "Love
me, Lope, love me even as I love you. No, no, that is not possible. But,
oh, if thy love should ever decrease--deceive me! in pity deceive me! Do
not let me suspect the dreadful truth--No, let death first conceal from
me so terrible a secret."

Gomez Arias again tenderly essayed to calm her agitation, and then urged
the necessity of quitting the place with the utmost expedition. She made
no longer any resistance, for she had advanced too far now to recede,
and leaning on her lover she was almost carried along the garden.

Gomez Arias quickly made a signal, and a ladder of ropes was thrown from
the other side. At the sight Theodora could scarcely restrain the agony
of her feelings. A crowd of thoughts distracted her mind--a load of
anguish was upon her breast, and had it not been for the support of her
lover, she would have fallen. Gomez Arias bore the trembling girl
across the wall, but as she stood for an instant on the summit, she cast
a long melancholy look on the home of her innocence and childhood--the
now deserted abode, of a venerable parent, and with a heart throbbing
with anguish, she intrusted herself to the protection of her lover.

CHAPTER X.

Where is she?
I wish to see my daughter, shew her me;

* * * *

You have betrayed me; y' have let loose
The jewel of my life: Go, bring her me,
And set her here before me.--

_Beaumont and Fletcher._

The next day arrived--a day of sorrow for the unfortunate Monteblanco.
Seated on a ponderous chair of rude workmanship, the old _caballero_
waited for the appearance of his darling daughter, to pay her morning
devoirs, and receive his blessing. He waited patiently for some time,
but his mind becoming fraught with more than usual anxiety, he called
lustily to the duenna,--he called again, and again, but to no purpose.
The pious old dame was deeply engaged in her orisons, and her mind
occupied with other affairs than appertain to this si