overcome now. You can see how the color has come back to her
face, yourself, Zillah.'

"Zillah gave a little groan, and staggered back against the wall,
pressing her hand on her heart. She was deathly white, and her face was
convulsed with pain.

"'Are you sick?' I demanded, really frightened, 'What is the matter,
Zillah?'

"'Nothing--nothing,' she gasped. 'Let me sit down a minute--only a
pain. I'm not very strong yet, young mistress.'

"She sank on a lounge that stood in the corridor, and covered her face
with her hand. We were near my room, so I ran in there and got a glass
of water and carried it to her.

"'Drink a little,' I said.

"The creature's hand shook so that she could scarcely hold the goblet,
but the tremor passed quickly.

"'Thank you, young mistress,' she said, with a humility that displeased
me, because it looked like acting. 'It is not the thing for you to wait
on me.'

"'Are you better?' I asked.

"'Yes--yes--well now! I think it was only joy--my dear, dear mistress! I
have this queer pain lately when I am taken of a sudden. It will go away
by and by; I'm going to lie down--mayn't I, Miss Mabel?'

"It was absurd to ask the question--the girl had always done just as she
pleased.

"'You know that you can,' I said.

"'If my mistress wants me, I'll come at once--I want to do everything
for her now. I'm quite well--quite strong.'

"She got up from the lounge and walked down the corridor, but her step
was unsteady and faltering. I was sorry for her, but my repugnance, my
absolute repulsion toward the beautiful creature was only increased,
though I could not have told why.

"Even her affection for her mistress seemed so exaggerated, that I could
not believe it. Oh, I was growing very hard and wicked. I reproached
myself bitterly, but the strange distrust would not be overcome.

"There is a fair in Seville, where many curious and beautiful things are
offered for sale. This morning the Eatons were urgent that we should go.
Some of the Rommany gipsies, from Grenada, had camped on the ground,
and Lucy was dying to have her fortune told. Did the silly wish affect
me? Was I weak enough to cover a latent desire to consult these strange
people under the pretence of obliging Lucy Eaton? I fear so. In the
restless state of mind which disturbed me, I was willing to fly even to
absurdities for relief. Mrs. Harrington, greatly to my astonishment,
consented to go with us. James protested a little agai