to her attendants, returned to her
apartment, where she endeavoured to conceal her emotion as well as the
high excitement of her feelings would permit.

The generous Leonor soon repaired to her charge.

"Come," said she, as she entered, "I suppose you will at least grace the
convivial table, since I could not prevail on you to adorn the
procession?"

"Suffer me," gently answered Theodora, "to trespass so far on your kind
indulgence as to excuse my absence from the feast. My mind, alas! is in
no state to enjoy the revelry, and I should but cast a gloom on the
brilliancy of the scene."

Leonor had a superior knowledge of human nature, and an unusual
quickness of discernment. She prudently considered that consolation
could much better be promoted by a gentle and timely acquiescence with
the desires of the afflicted, than by an overstrained and ill-timed
attempt to obtrude gaiety on a mind that was not prepared for its
admission. Theodora's request to keep her apartment was accordingly
complied with. There she passed the remainder of the day in busy
communion with her own thoughts, and bewildered in contemplating the
conduct that she ought to adopt in her unfortunate situation. Her
forlorn heart naturally and affectionately turned to the home of her
childhood; her ideas fondly returned to the pure channel from whence
they had too long wandered, and momentarily overpowered the terrors
which a consciousness of guilt presented to her imagination. Her father
would not discard his afflicted, his repentant child. Her offence
towards him had been great, but it could not be greater than the
parental anxiety, the fond, boundless affection he had ever shown to the
only remaining pledge of her mother's love, the sole descendant of his
ancient house.

These consoling reflections happily soothed the heart of Theodora. She
arose from her despondency with a sudden start of resolution, and
determined that on the moment her generous deliverer should arrive, she
would acquaint him with her wishes, and crave his assistance to conduct
her to the feet of her sorrowing parent.

CHAPTER VI.

Cosi gl'interi giorni in lungo incerto
Sonno gemo! ma poi quando la bruna
Notte gli astri nel ciel chiama e la luna
E il freddo aer di mute ombre e coverto;
Dove selvoso e il piano e piu deserto
Allor lento io vagando, ad una ad una
Palpo le piaghe onde la rea fortuna
E amore e il mondo hanno il mio core apert