Denia should say.
`Senora,' said I, `I kiss the soles of your feet. But allow me to
entreat your Highness to return to your chamber.'--`I will not return
till you have sung to me,' saith she. And she sat right down on the
floor, and clasped her hands around her knees. So I had no choice but
to sing my hymn over again. When I ended, she saith, `What means it,
Dona Ines? Is it somewhat of our Lord?'--`Ay, Senora,' I made answer,
`it is all touching Him,'--`I understood the Church hymns once,' she
said; `but that was before the _cuerda_. Sing some more.' Then I sang
`_Victimae Paschali_!' `_Miserere_!' she repeated, dreamily, as if that
word had woke some old echoes in her memory. `Ay de mi! child, I lack
the mercy very sorely.'--`He knoweth that, Senora,' said I gently. `And
His time is the best time.' And she answered, as she had aforetime,--`I
would He would come!' I knew scarce what to answer; but I had no time
to answer at all, ere the door opened, which the Queen had closed behind
her, and my dread Lord of Denia stood before me. `What is this,
Senora?' he said to her Highness. `Your Highness here!' And turning to
me, `Dona Ines,' quoth he, `explain it if you can.' I thought the
wisest thing should be to speak very truth, as well as the right, and I
told him even how matters stood with me. `I see,' he answered. `You
have not been to blame, except that you should have called immediately
for help, and have put her back into her chamber. Rise, Senora!' The
Queen clasped her hands closer around her knees. `I am at ease here,'
she said. `And I want Dona Ines to sing.' The Marquis took a step
nearer her. `_Alteza_,' he said, `I desire your Highness to rise. You
should be ashamed--you, a Queen!' She looked up on him with a look I
had not seen in her _eyes_ aforetime. `Am I a Queen?' she said. `If
so, a Queen captive in the enemy's hands! If I be your Queen, obey me--
depart from this chamber when you hear my "_Yo la Reyna_." [Note 2.]
Begone, senor Marques! Leave me in peace.' `Senora!' he answered,
unmoving, `I am surprised. You are in your own Palace, where your
father detains you; and you call it captivity! Rise at once, Senora,
and return to your chamber.' He spoke sternly and determinedly. The
captive lioness heard the keeper's voice, and obeyed. `My father--ay
Don Fernando!' she said only. And holding out both her hands to him, as
a child should do, he led her away. After that, I saw