le.

It will be remembered that amongst the articles thus saved were changes
of apparel, which Stephano Verrina had procured for her use at Leghorn
ere the corsair-bark set sail on that voyage from which it never
returned, and during Nisida's long sojourn on the island, she had
frequently examined those garments, and had been careful to secure them
from the effects of rain or damp, in the hope that the day would sooner
or later come when she might assume them for the purpose of bidding
adieu to that lovely but monotonous island. And now that day has come;
and the moment so anxiously longed for appeared to be rapidly
approaching. Nisida accordingly commenced her toilet, as if she had only
just risen from her couch and was preparing to dress to go abroad
amongst the busy haunts of human beings.

Her dark luxuriant hair, which so long had floated negligently upon her
ivory shoulders, was now gathered up in broad massive bands at the
sides, and artistically plaited and confined at the back of her
well-shaped head. The tight bodice was next laced over the swelling
bosom: hose and light boots imprisoned the limbs which had so often
borne her glancing along in their nudity to the soft music of the stream
in the vale or of the wavelets of the sea; broidery set off the fine
form of Nisida in all the advantage of its glowing, full and voluptuous
proportions. Then the large black veil was fastened to the plaits of her
hair, whence its ample folds swept over that admirable symmetry of
person, endowing her once more with the queen-like air which became so
well her splendid, yet haughty style of beauty! Yes: no longer subdued
by simplicity of attire--no longer tender and soft, was the loveliness
of Nisida; but grand, imperious, and dazzling did she now seem again, as
erst she seemed ere her foot trod that island-shore.

Appareled in handsome garments, and with the rich carnation glow of
health and animation on her cheeks, and with her eyes flashing the fires
of hope, but with the vermilion lips compressed, Nisida now stood on the
strand where so oft she had wandered like a naiad, feeling no shame at
her semi-nudity.

During the time occupied by her toilet, the fleet of seven ships had
approached much nearer to the island, and now they were not more than
three miles distant. The hulls, which at first had seemed quite black,
shone, as they drew closer, with the gay colors in which they were
painted, the gorgeous sunlight playing vi