ow often she read with the eyes of her imagination his
written promise to her rival! What words and phrases she added to it, to
make it more sure and binding! How often she refused to believe that it
was lost! And how many a time she repeated to herself, that even though
it were lost, Marco Antonio would not the less fulfil his promise to
Leocadia, without thinking of that by which he was bound to herself! In
such thoughts as these she passed the night without a wink of sleep; nor
was her brother Don Rafael less wakeful; for no sooner had he heard who
Leocadia was, than his heart was on fire for her. He beheld her in
imagination, not tied to a tree, or in tattered male garments, but in
her own rich apparel in her wealthy father's house. He would not suffer
his mind to dwell on that which was the primary cause of his having
become acquainted with her; and he longed for day that he might continue
his journey and find out Marco Antonio, not so much that he might make
him his brother-in-law, as that he might hinder him from becoming the
husband of Leocadia. In fact, he was so possessed by love and jealousy,
that he could have borne to see his sister comfortless, and Marco
Antonio fairly buried, rather than be himself without hope of obtaining
Leocadia.

Thus with different thoughts, they all quitted their beds at break of
day, and Don Rafael sent for the host, and asked him if he could
purchase a suit of clothes in that place for a page who had been
stripped by robbers. The host said he happened to have one for sale
which he would dispose of at a reasonable price. He produced it,
Leocadia found that it fitted her very well, she put it on, and girt
herself with sword and dagger with such sprightly grace that she
enchanted Don Rafael, and redoubled Teodosia's jealousy. Calvete saddled
the mules, and about eight in the morning, they started for Barcelona,
not intending to take the famous monastery of Monserrate on their way,
but to visit it on a future occasion, whenever it might please God to
send them home again with hearts more at ease.

Words are not adequate to describe the feelings of the two brothers, or
with what different eyes they severally regarded Leocadia; Teodosia
wishing for her death, and Don Rafael for her life; Teodosia striving to
find faults in her, in order that she might not despair of her own
hopes; and Don Rafael finding out new perfections, that more and more
obliged him to love her. All these thought