w can I tell?" cried he, angrily. "I was born, I suppose, under an
evil star; for nothing prospers with me."

"But can you even guess her reasons?" said she, eagerly.

"No, except it be the presumption of one in _my_ condition daring to
aspire to one in _yours_; and that, as the world goes, would be reason
enough. It is probable, too, that I did not state these pretensions of
mine over delicately. I told her, with a frankness that was not quite
acceptable, I was one who could not speak of birth or blood. She did not
like the coarse word I applied to myself, and I will not repeat it; and
she ventured to suggest that, had there not appeared some ambiguity
in her own position, _I_ could never have so far forgotten mine as to
advance such pretensions--"

"Well, and then?" cried the girl, eagerly.

"Well, and then," said he, deliberately, "I told her I had heard rumors
of the kind she alluded to, but to _me_ they carried no significance;
that it was for _you_ I cared. The accidents of life around you had no
influence on my choice; you might be all that the greatest wealth and
highest blood could make you, or as poor and ignoble as myself, without
any change in my affections. 'These,' said she, 'are the insulting
promptings of that English breeding which you say has mixed with your
blood, and if for no other cause would make me distrust you.'

"'Stained as it may be,' said I, 'that same English blood is the best
pride I possess.' She grew pale with passion as I said this, but never
spoke a word; and there we stood, staring haughtily at each other, till
she pointed to the door, and so I left her. And now, Ida, who is she
that treats me thus disdainfully? I ask you not in anger, for I know too
well how the world regards such as me to presume to question its harsh
injustice. But tell me, I beseech you, that she is one to whose station
these prejudices are the fitting accompaniments, and let me feel that
it is less myself as the individual that she wrongs, than the class I
belong to is that which she despises. I can better bear this contumely
when I know that it is an instinct."

"If birth and blood can justify a prejudice, a Princess of the house of
Delia Torre might claim the privilege," said the girl, haughtily. "No
family of the North, at least, will dispute with our own in lineage; but
there are other causes which may warrant all that she feels towards you
even more strongly, Sebastian. This boast of your English origin