sh whim! Have you quite
forgotten who and what we are? Have you forgotten that those were
Melchites who slew your two dear brothers--our two noble sons? Of what
account are we among the orthodox Greeks? While among the Egyptians and
all who confess the saving doctrine of Eutyches, among the Monophysites
we are the chief, and we will remain so, and close our ears and hearts
against all heretics and their superstitions. What! A grandson of Menas,
the brother of two martyrs for our glorious faith, married to a Melchite!
The mere idea is sacrilege, is blasphemy; I can give it no milder name! I
and your father will die childless before we consent! And it is for the
love of this woman, whose heart is so cold that I shiver only to think of
it--for this waif and stray, who has nothing but her ragged pride and the
mere scrapings of a lost fortune, which never could compare with
ours--for this thankless creature, who can hardly bring herself to bid
me, your mother, such a civil good-morning--by Heaven it is the truth--as
I can say to a slave--for her that I, that your parents are to be bereft
of their son, the only child that a gracious Providence has left to be
their joy and comfort? No, no, never! Far be it from me! You, Orion, my
heart's darling, you have been a wilful fellow all your life, but you
cannot have such a perverse heart as to bring your old mother, who has
kept you in her heart these four and twenty years, in sorrow to the grave
and embitter your father's few remaining days--for his hours are
numbered!--And all for the sake of this cold beauty, whom you have seen
for a few hours these last two days. You cannot have the heart to do
this, my heart's treasure, no, you cannot!--But if you should in some
accursed hour, I tell you--and I have been a tender mother to you all
your life-but as surely as God shall be my stay and your father's in our
last hour, I will tear all love for you out of my heart like a poisonous
weed--I will, though that heart should break!"

Orion put his arms round the excited woman, who lead freed herself from
his embrace, laid his hand lightly on her lips and kissed her eyes,
whispering in her ear:

"I have not the heart indeed, and could scarcely find it." Then, taking
both her hands, he looked straight into her face.

"Brrr!" he exclaimed, "your daredevil son was never so much frightened in
his life as by your threats. What dreadful words are these--and even
worse were at the tip of your ton