glance
of distrust; while she clutched the weapon in her right hand, which hung
down by her side, the other being stretched out before her, as if to
prevent her supposed rival from approaching her.

Ada felt an unusual courage come to her aid. She neither trembled nor
turned pale, nor did she show any attempt to defend herself from Nina's
mistaken vengeance; but she lifted her mild blue eyes, full of
commiseration, towards the now flashing orbs of the Italian, and, in a
sweet, calm voice, she said--

"There is a Power above, which, if we seek, will arm us both--you
against such vain fears, me against the guilt, unknowing though it may
be, of winning affections which should be your alone."

A fresh impulse seized the unhappy Nina; flinging away her weapon, she
rushed forward, and throwing herself on her knees, clasped Ada's hand
and covered it with kisses.

"I have not the heart to injure you, though you should prove my
destruction," she exclaimed. "But you will not allow him to pour the
words of tender endearment into those ears; nay, if he does but think or
utter one word of love, remember, the time has come to act for your own
safety. Here, take this weapon, and promise me to employ it, should the
necessity arrive, for should you fail to do so, neither your beauty, nor
his shielding arm could save you from the maddened impulse of my hand--
the last dying effort of my strength."

As she spoke, she rose, and lifting her dagger from the ground, she
returned with it towards Ada.

"Nay, fear not, lady," she said, as she saw Ada start. "It is harmless
now. Take the dagger, and keep it as remembrance of the unhappy Nina
Montifalcone."

Nina presented the weapon, as she said this, with the hilt towards Ada,
who considered it would be more politic to accept the gift, though,
indeed, she shuddered as she did so; but she felt that she might herself
unhappily be driven to the dire necessity of employing it. She took it,
therefore, and placed it on the table by her. She then raised the
excited and unhappy girl, who had again sunk on her knees, and placed
her on a seat by her side, when, after some time, she succeeded, by slow
degrees, in completely tranquillising and re-assuring her mind.

"You are no stranger to me, Nina," said Ada Garden, affectionately
holding her hand. "Your brother has told me the whole of your history,
and his own unhappy fate. His devotion to you seems unparalleled. Do
you feel that you