irst bright day of real happiness
which I enjoyed, was that when I first knew that thou didst love me! And
again, Fernand--oh! again was I supremely happy when, one evening--thou
may'st remember well,--it was the eve that my brother and the minion
Flora exchanged tender words together in the room adjoining that where
we were seated--on that evening, Fernand, I besought by signs that thou
wouldst breathe the words--_I love thee!_ and thou didst so--and I drank
in those words as a person dying with thirst would imbibe pure spring
water placed to his lips!"

Fernand pressed Nisida to his heart--for he saw, in spite of her anxiety
to return to Italy, that she really loved him.

But though sensual and impassioned feelings led the beauteous Nisida
thus frequently to melt into softness and tenderness when she
contemplated the wondrously handsome countenance of Fernand, yet from
this day forth her longing to return to Italy became more earnest--more
irresistible; and she would compel him to sit by her side for hours
together on the shore, while she eagerly watched for the appearance of a
sail in the horizon. And Fernand, who divined her object, himself now
longed for the advent of a ship;--so sincere was his love for Nisida
that he was ready to make any sacrifice in order to promote her
happiness. Thus passed away the sixth month; and on the afternoon of the
last day thereof, when Wagner was about to observe to her that the time
had now arrived for him to pass the mountains once again, she said of
her own accord, "Fernand, my beloved, when next you visit the other side
of the island, you would do well to raise some sign, or leave some
permanent mark to show that there are inhabitants on this island. For a
ship might touch at that point--the sailors might seek the shore for
water, and they would then search to discover where those who raised the
signal-post are dwelling."

"Your wish shall be fulfilled, dearest," answered Wagner; "and without
delay will I seek the other side of the island."

They then embraced tenderly, and Fernand departed, once more to fulfill
his frightful doom! Nisida watched his receding form until it was lost
in the groves intervening between the plains and the acclivities of the
range of mountains; and then she seated herself again on the sand,
wondering of what nature her husband's secret could be, and why it
compelled him to absent himself occasionally from her. Though _he_ kept
an accurate calculat