appalling
revelation.

"Fernand," said Nisida, breaking silence after a long pause, during
which she was wrapped in profound meditation, "thy words go to my heart
like fiery arrows! O my handsome--my beautiful--my beloved Fernand, why
does destiny thus persecute us? It is impossible for thee to return to
Florence:--it is equally impossible for me to renounce the first
opportunity which Heaven may afford for me to repair thither! My God!
wherefore do our fates tend in such opposite directions? to separate
from thee were maddening: to abandon my brother Francisco--to desert the
grave and solemn interests which demand my presence at home, were to
render myself perjured to a vow which I breathed and which Heaven
witnessed, when I knelt long years ago at the death-bed of my mother!"

"After all thou hast said, my beloved Nisida," exclaimed Fernand, in a
voice expressive of the deepest melancholy, "I should be wrong--I should
be even criminal to listen only to the whispering of my own selfishness
and retain thee here, did opportunity serve for thy departure. But on
this island shall I remain--perhaps forever! And if the time should come
when you grew wearied of that bustling world across the sea, and thy
memory traveled to this lonely isle where thy Fernand was left behind
thee,--haply thou wouldst embark to return hither and pass the remainder
of thy days with one who can never cease to love thee!"

Tears came into the eyes of Nisida--of her who so seldom, so very seldom
wept;--and throwing herself into Wagner's arms, she exclaimed, "God
grant that I may revisit my native land; and believe me, oh! believe me,
when I declare that I would come back to thee the moment the interests
of my brother no longer demanded my presence!"

They embraced fondly, and then sat down upon the sand to partake of
their morning repast.

But the thoughts of both were naturally intent upon the recent topic of
their discourse; and their conversation, though each endeavored to force
it into other channels, reverted to the subject which was now uppermost
in their minds.

"What must my poor brother Francisco conjecture to be the cause of my
prolonged, and to him mysterious absence?" said Nisida, as her eyes were
cast wistfully over the wide expanse of waters. "Methinks that I have
already hinted to thee how the foolish passion which he had conceived
for a maiden of low degree and obscure birth, compelled me, in
accordance with his nearest and be