he at
length succeeded, through the pity of the servants, in obtaining an
interview, and the poor girl, weeping upon his breast, where she had so
often been comforted before, told him the sad tale of her trials.

Soon after he had left, a noble Marquis, of great wealth, had made
overtures for her hand, which Don Pedro, without consulting her, had at
once accepted, and promised that within a year the bridal feast should
be celebrated. When he informed his daughter of her fate, she besought
him with tears not to send her from her home; but his only reply was
that the matter was determined, and that all she had to do was to submit
and to prepare for the wedding. Dreading as she did her father's wrath,
she dreaded yet more this hateful, compulsory marriage, and kneeling
down at his feet, with streaming eyes, she prayed him in the humblest
manner to spare his only child; she could never survive the union--it
would break her heart--she was young, and wished still to remain for
some years under the paternal roof. But tears and entreaties were
unavailing. Don Pedro commanded her, in the most peremptory manner, to
obey. Rising, with a dignity and composure of manner he had never seen
in her before, for she had ever appeared in his presence only a timid
and frightened child, she professed her readiness to make his will her
law in every other point; she would serve him like a slave, die for him;
she would never marry against his wishes, but would ever strive to
approve herself a dutiful daughter. But in this point she must imitate
his own firmness, and prove herself his child; a vow was upon her soul
that she must not break, and she could not, she would not, marry the
Marquis de Oviedo. As she stood there, so young and so determined, with
all the pride of her race and all the dignity of womanhood rising up to
aid the true love which beat in her heart, even her father was struck
with admiration, and for a moment hesitated. But vindictive passion
triumphed over better feelings, and he ordered her to be placed in her
chamber, under strict confinement. Once a month, since then, had he
visited her apartment, to ask her if she were now ready to yield her
submission; and, upon her reply that she would rather die than wed the
Marquis de Oviedo, with an angry scowl he would leave her room. Poor
Inez looked thin and care-worn, but was greatly comforted by seeing her
betrothed; and they agreed that it was better, whatever the consequences
m