sed by his tender anxiety a transient
joy over her features. She soon insensibly sunk into that sweet state of
languor which precedes sleep--her beautiful eyes by fits now entirely
closing, now gently opening, indicated the gradual absorption of her
senses, till at last she fell into a profound slumber. Gomez Arias, who
as we have observed stood watching her, like the tender mother over her
beloved daughter, now knelt close by her side, and softly pronounced her
name--she answered not--he took her yielding hand, gazed over her
anxiously, till he was perfectly assured that a profound sleep had
completely overpowered her faculties.

"Senor," quoth Roque, "methinks it would be a pity to disturb the
slumbers of the poor lady after the journey she has undergone."

"I do not mean to interrupt her rest," said Gomez Arias, in a low voice,
"so we must even retire."

Then he rose up with cautious silence, and drawing near his valet, he
added--

"Rise, rise quickly, and make no noise."

Roque obeyed, and both having retreated to some distance--"Senor,"
observed the valet, who cared not again to disturb the ominous ravens,
for which he felt an instinctive horror--"Senor, no necessity for
retiring further."

"Yes there is an imperious one," replied Gomez Arias, "I can no longer
remain here."

"What say you, my honored master!" demanded Roque, alarmed; "surely you
are not afraid of the Moors? By my conscience, we should come to a
pretty pass if such were really the case."

"Peace, thou wretch!" said Don Lope; "speak not a word, but immediately
untie my horse, and as you expect to live, mind you make not noise
enough to disturb even the leaf of the tree."

"Senor, I do not understand," quoth the bewildered Roque.

"I must begone," impatiently replied his master.

"Gone, Sir! Why I understood you had determined not to break our young
lady's repose."

"Nor is that my intention. She must remain here with thee, till I am out
of sight."

"_Cuerpo de Christo!_ What ails you my dear Senor; what ails you, in the
name of _San Jose bendito_?" exclaimed the astounded Roque, who really
imagined his master was beside himself.

"Listen, Roque," said Gomez Arias, "and mind thou religiously observest
my instructions. Unavoidable circumstances require that I and Theodora
should part; I have been seeking an opportunity of so doing, and
assuredly I shall not find a better than the present. It is necessary I
should return to Granada im