nconsistent with your high
rank--your proud fortunes--your great name, was that love which you bore
for a humble and obscure girl----"

"A love which I shall not be ashamed to own in the sight of all
Florence," exclaimed Francisco in an impassioned tone. "But if Nisida
were the cause of that cruel outrage on thee, my Flora, we will forgive
her--for she could have acted only through conscientious, though most
mistaken, motives. Mistaken, indeed! for never could I have known
happiness again hadst thou not been restored to me. It was to wean my
mind from pondering on afflictions that goaded me to despair that I
embarked in the cause of Christendom against the encroachments of Moslem
power. Thinking that thou wast forever lost to me--that my sister also
had become the victim of some murderous hand,--harassed by doubts the
most cruel--an uncertainty the most agonizing,--I sought death on the
walls of Rhodes; but the destroying angel's arrow rebounded from my
corselet--his sword was broken against my shield!

"During my voyage back to Italy--after beholding the crescent planted on
the walls where the Christian standard had floated for so many, many
years--a storm overtook the ship; and yet the destroying angel gave me
not the death I courted. This evening I once more set foot in Florence.
From my own mansion Nisida is still absent: and no tidings have been
received of her. Alas! is she then lost to me forever? Without tarrying
even to change my travel-soiled clothes, I set out to make inquiries
concerning another whom I love--and that other is thyself! Here, thanks
to a merciful Heaven, my heart has not been doomed to experience a
second and equally cruel disappointment; for I have found thee at last,
my Flora--and henceforth my arm shall protect thee from peril."

"How have I deserved so much kindness at thine hands?" murmured the
maiden, again drooping her blushing head. "And oh! what will you think,
Francisco--what will you say, when you learn that I was there--there in
that cottage--with my aunt--when you called the last time to inquire if
any tidings had been received of me----"

"You were there!" exclaimed Francisco, starting back in surprise not
unmingled with anger; "you were there, Flora--and you knew that I was in
despair concerning thee--that I would have given worlds to have heard of
thy safety,--I, who thought that some fiend in human shape had sent thee
to an early grave?"

"Forgive me, Francisco: forgive m