the cold one of his mistress, fervently kissed the crimson
stain upon her forehead, and then bound it with a scarf.

Theodora, however, for some time gave no sign of life. Don Lope called
her by the most tender names, sprinkled her face with the water of a
neighbouring fountain, and exhausted himself in efforts to revive her.
At last she gently opened her eyes, a scarce perceptible motion shook
her frame, and shortly after she raised her white fingers to her
forehead, as if conscious of sensation. She heaved a deep sigh, and
Gomez Arias watching with anxious gaze the progress of her reviving
senses, strove with soothing fondness to hasten their return. Her eyes
gently opened, and a sad smile played upon her lip, as she acknowledged
the tender solicitude of her lover, unable as yet to express herself by
words.

"Theodora, my dearest, don't you know me?"

Her abstracted senses awoke as if from a horrid dream, and with fearful
and convulsive clasp she hung to Don Lope's neck.

"He is not gone--no, no, I have him here--" The rest of her sentence was
lost in a hysteric laugh.

"No, my love," tenderly said Gomez Arias, "I am not gone, nor ever will.
I am a barbarian to treat you thus. I do not merit such excellence as
thine, and, I crave thy forgiveness for the misery I have inflicted."

Theodora, now perfectly restored, saw the stain of blood on her lover's
lip, then she felt the bandage on her forehead, and when Gomez Arias
explained the nature of her wound, the fond girl rejoiced at a cause
that had called forth her lover's anxiety and caresses.

They remained in profound silence, which they were both afraid to break,
for they trembled to renew a subject which had produced such melancholy
effects.

But time was swiftly flying, and Gomez Arias again urged the necessity
of adopting some resolution.

"Theodora," he said, "the night is wearing fast away, her friendly shade
will but for a short time longer favor us, and the morning must, alas!
throw still darker shadows over our brightest hopes."

Theodora sighed deeply, but was unable to reply.

"What is to be done?" demanded Don Lope. "Is it your wish that we should
part for ever?"

"Part for ever!" cried Theodora; "Oh Heavens! the idea is more than I
can endure."

"There is no other alternative left us," said Gomez Arias, "unless you
feel yourself courageous enough to--" and here he cast an inquiring
glance, and waited her reply; for though the purport of his