llectuals were none of the brightest, had got
himself, without perceiving it, completely into a _premunire_, by the
Socratic mode of reasoning adopted by his more skilful antagonist, who
at parting once more addressed him:--

"Take my advice, Signor de Luna, and leave your niece to herself on this
subject: a young female heart cannot be made, like one of your
soldiers, to march and countermarch at the word of command; it is,
besides, of very frail materials, and, when once injured or broken, can
never be repaired. The happiness of one so dear to you as your niece,
may be destroyed forever, by forcing her into a match she detests; but
it will then be too late to repair your fault, and it will always be to
you a subject of the bitterest regret and unavailing remorse."

With these words he departed. But the governor, although convinced by
the priest's arguments, and set into profound meditation by his last
words, was one of those people, of whom we see so many at every step we
take through life, who ask advice when they need it, are convinced of
its soundness when given, and yet, though their natural good sense
assents to dispassionate reasoning, return to their old, foolish,
absurd, and ruinous opinions and intentions.

Don Gaspar, therefore, although convinced that he was a fool, and an
unfeeling relation in attempting to force his niece into a marriage with
such a worthless puppy as he readily admitted the proposed lover was in
every respect, continued to adhere to his original intention, which he
thought best, however, to defer for a time.

CHAPTER V.

There is as weighty reason
For secresy in love, as treason.
Love is a burglarer, a felon,
That at the window-eye doth steal in
To rob the heart, and with his prey
Steals out again a closer way.

HUDIBRAS.

The morning of the day appointed for the visit to the ship Orion rose as
pure, and clear, and beautiful, as though no party of pleasure was
intended, but not more pure, and clear, and beautiful, than the weather
always is during the dry season of tropical climates, which, with the
cool and refreshing sea-breeze, is one of the delights of those climates
that I forgot to particularise in its proper place. With us of the
temperate section of this round world the case is altogether
different--the day appointed a week beforehand for a party of pleasure
being almost invariably rainy, blowy, hail