ith a mixture of compassion and disappointment
as he endeavoured to raise her from the ground.

"No, never," she cried, "never will I rise till you grant my request."

"Rise, rise, Theodora," said he gloomily, "and listen to me for the last
time.--Since it is your desire, I will no longer, press a sacrifice I
was naturally bound to expect from your repeated, and apparently
sincere, protestations of regard. Since you will have it so, I must
yield. I will begone immediately; but if you are to be for ever lost to
me, think not I will tamely submit to my wrongs. I will seek out the
cause of our misfortunes, and if he is the valiant knight report speaks
him, I shall then find the only solace left me in my desolation, that of
taking ample vengeance or falling nobly by his weapon. And now," he
added after a short pause, "farewell Theodora! Farewell, for we part for
ever!"

"No, you cannot," franticly cried Theodora, "you must not leave me
thus. Oh Lope! you were always tender, and generous, and kind.--Never
did you in the slightest manner wound my heart till this dreadful
night."

"True," replied Don Lope, "and never till the present moment could I
doubt your love."

"Oh Lope! Lope! and is it to your Theodora you speak thus! In pity
recall those dreadful words."

"Silly girl," vehemently exclaimed Gomez Arias, "what do you require of
me? Or what is it that you wish? You have chosen your path, let me now
take mine, unless you force me in my anguish to curse the hour when I
first beheld you."

"Curse the day you saw me!" As she uttered this exclamation an
involuntary chill crept over her, which seemed to have frozen the
springs of her heart.

"Theodora," he now said in a tone of sad reproach, "dry your tears--you
will soon have bitter occasion for them. May you enjoy that repose
which you have for ever destroyed in my heart--Farewell! Farewell!"

As he said this he gently strove to disengage himself from her hold. The
struggle was too powerful for her nature, and like the poor bird when
under the magic influence of the serpent, yields itself to the
destructive charm, Theodora, unable any longer to combat with her
overpowering feelings, threw herself into her lover's arms, and
exclaimed passionately upon his bosom--"No, no, dear Lope, we will not
part. Let it be as you will." She paused, and then added with
solemnity--"It is decreed that I must be wretched, but you at least
shall never have reason to reproach me."