e cause, of stars, of angels, and of our
peculiar and gifted land. No, no; now it is all mixed up with intrigue,
and politics, and management, and baffled schemes, and cunning arts of
men. You may be, you are, free from all this, but your faith is not the
same. You no longer believe in Arabia.'

'Why, thou to me art Arabia,' said Tancred, advancing and kneeling at
her side. 'The angel of Arabia, and of my life and spirit! Talk not
to me of faltering faith: mine is intense. Talk not to me of leaving a
divine cause: why, thou art my cause, and thou art most divine! O Eva!
deign to accept the tribute of my long agitated heart! Yes, I too, like
thee, am sometimes full of despair; but it is only when I remember that
I love, and love, perhaps, in vain!'

He had clasped her hand; his passionate glance met her eye, as he looked
up with adoration to a face infinitely distressed. Yet she withdrew not
her hand, as she murmured, with averted head, 'We must not talk of these
things; we must not think of them. You know all.'

'I know of nothing, I will know of nothing, but of my love.'

'There are those to whom I belong; and to whom you belong. Yes,' she
said, trying to withdraw her hand, 'fly, fly from me, son of Europe and
of Christ!'

'I am a Christian in the land of Christ,' said Tancred, 'and I kneel to
a daughter of my Redeemer's race. Why should I fly?'

'Oh! this is madness!'

'Say, rather, inspiration,' said Tancred, 'for I will not quit this
fountain by which we first met until I am told, as you now will tell
me,' he added, in a tone of gushing tenderness, 'that our united
destinies shall advance the sovereign purpose of our lives. Talk not to
me of others, of those who have claims on you or on myself. I have no
kindred, no country, and, as for the ties that would bind you, shall
such world-worn bonds restrain our consecrated aim? Say but you love me,
and I will trample them to the dust.'

The head of Eva fell upon his shoulder. He impressed an embrace upon her
cheek. It was cold, insensible. Her hand, which he still held, seemed to
have lost all vitality. Overcome by contending emotions, the principle
of life seemed to have deserted her. Tancred laid her reclining figure
with gentleness on the mats of the kiosk; he sprinkled her pale face
with some drops from the fountain; he chafed her delicate hand. Her eyes
at length opened, and she sighed. He placed beneath her head some of
the cushions that were at hand. Reco