her increased than diminished by
the claim she had perhaps given him to intrude on her private moments;
but the sounds of her soft voice, which was offering up prayers,
in which he heard himself named by the dearest of all appellations,
overcame his scruples, and induced him to take a position where he might
listen without the fear of detection. It was certainly grateful to the
feelings of a husband to be able in this manner to lay bare the spotless
soul of his wife, and to find that his own image lay enshrined amid its
purest and holiest aspirations. His self-esteem was too much flattered
not to induce him to overlook the immediate object of the petitioner.
While she prayed that she might become the humble instrument of bringing
him into the flock of the faithful, she petitioned for forgiveness, on
her own behalf, if presumption or indifference to the counsel of the
church had caused her to set too high a value on her influence, and led
her into the dangerous error of hazarding her own soul by espousing a
heretic. There was so much of fervent piety, mingled with so strong a
burst of natural feeling, so much of the woman blended with the angel,
in her prayers, that Middleton could have forgiven her, had she termed
him a Pagan, for the sweetness and interest with which she petitioned in
his favour.

The young man waited until his bride arose from her knees, and then he
joined her, as if entirely ignorant of what had occurred.

"It is getting late, my Inez," he said, "and Don Augustin would be apt
to reproach you with inattention to your health, in being abroad at such
an hour. What then am I to do, who am charged with all his authority,
and twice his love?"

"Be like him in every thing," she answered, looking up in his face, with
tears in her eyes, and speaking with emphasis; "in every thing. Imitate
my father, Middleton, and I can ask no more of you."

"Nor for me, Inez? I doubt not that I should be all you can wish, were
I to become as good as the worthy and respectable Don Augustin. But you
are to make some allowances for the infirmities and habits of a soldier.
Now let us go and join this excellent father."

"Not yet," said his bride, gently extricating herself from the arm, that
he had thrown around her slight form, while he urged her from the place.
"I have still another duty to perform, before I can submit so implicitly
to your orders, soldier though you are. I promised the worthy Inesella,
my faithful nurse,