s you
look rather uneasy; surely you are not indisposed?--the noble Don
Alonso too! Nay, has any thing occurred during my short absence to cause
your disquietude?"

"Certainly," returned Leonor coldly, "nothing has happened that _ought_
to cause disquietude. But, surely, Don Lope," she added sarcastically,
"your sudden departure, and the summons of our mutual friend Count de
Urena, might have held us in some little anxiety. Moreover, other small
circumstances have contributed to cause a transient uneasiness."

"But you must not," interposed Don Lope, "suffer yourselves to be
discomposed on account of our friend Urena, for I am happy to say he was
considerably better when I left him."

"Then," cried Aguilar, "it is as I suspected."

And rising from his seat with an expression of dark displeasure, without
further ceremony he quitted the apartment. Gomez Arias was struck at
such strange behaviour; but soon recovering his surprise,--

"What means this, Leonor?" he said in an angry tone: "Why am I treated
thus?"

"Don Lope," returned Leonor, "surely the malady of your friend has
somewhat affected your understanding. We can have no right to interfere
with the actions of my father, particularly as I have already told you
some accidents have occurred lately to ruffle his temper."

"And what accidents are those, in the name of heaven?"

"Are you really, then, so ignorant of the events which have taken place
since you were imperiously summoned to attend your friend?"

"Perfectly ignorant," replied Don Lope.

Leonor looked steadily in his face, and making a sign of impatience
which she was unable to restrain, proceeded--

"It is surprising that the Count has not informed you."

"Of what?" interrupted Gomez Arias, astonished. "In the name of heaven,
explain yourself, Leonor."

"Now, do you not think," continued she, in an affected banter, "it was
highly ridiculous in a man of so grave a deportment as the Count to play
such boyish tricks? Can you really believe that, shortly after your
departure, a message came from him, to announce his intention of
surprising you by his attendance at your wedding."

"Certainly," replied Gomez Arias with visible marks of emotion, "the
Count's conduct is strange; what his intention has been I really cannot
conceive: but at all events, it ought in no manner to entail on me your
noble father's displeasure."

"Why, Don Lope," said Leonor significantly, "you are not such a novice
in kn