lushing deeply,
and striving to conceal her emotion. "What can induce you to suppose I
could have so perverse a disposition, as to rejoice at an event that is
evidently annoying and distressing to my kind and generous benefactor?"

"Dear lady, take not amiss my observation, but as sure as I am a
Christian, and hope for salvation, you are much altered for the better
since yesterday."

Having communicated the news of the palace to her fair charge, the good
Lisarda bustled away to learn further particulars. Theodora soon after
received a visit from the noble Don Alonso, on whose countenance were
strongly depicted the signs of displeasure. Theodora easily divined the
cause, and though she rejoiced in the termination of an event, in which
her happiness was so deeply interested, she could not suppress a
sensation of generous pity, at the idea that she was the immediate,
though innocent, cause of her benefactor's disappointment.

With the simplicity congenial to her nature, she more than once during
this interview felt a strong desire to throw herself at the feet of
Aguilar, and frankly to avow the whole of her melancholy tale; yet she
was restrained from following the genuine impulse of her heart, when
she recollected her lover's absolute command. Thus, although her
delicacy and frankness were hurt at the duplicity she was compelled to
use towards one by whom she had been rescued from the most appalling
fate, she stifled the suggestions of sincerity, to observe implicitly
the wishes of a man who was even then planning her future misery and
misfortune. Nor was this the only trial that Theodora had to sustain.
She had been obliged to resist the invitation of Aguilar, who repeatedly
pressed her to make her appearance in the grand saloon, and she had the
mortification of suspecting, that an unfavorable construction was put
upon her denial. They might attribute to female caprice, or a want of
proper feelings for a generous benefactor, that which in reality was the
mere effect of a sensitive mind and a devoted heart.

Theodora underwent all these trials with patient resignation, in the
fond expectation of a speedy deliverance from her present irksome
situation. In this uninterrupted succession of doubt and fear she spent
the long and tedious day, and hailed with transport the arrival of
night, which was now enveloping in her sable mantle the proud turrets
and lofty buildings of Granada.

CHAPTER XIII.

Per gli antr