ce to
fulfil the dictates of honor and humanity, without trespassing too far
on my own happiness?"

Don Alonso de Aguilar was in some manner reconciled to the necessity of
the measure proposed by Gomez Arias, though his pride received a severe
check, the effects of which were easily to be discerned in his
features.

"But," said he with some asperity of tone, "my permission is not the
only one you are to obtain, Don Lope. My daughter must be
consulted--have you received her sanction? The Queen also must be
forthwith apprized of this sudden change, and I know not how her
Highness may be disposed to acquiesce in the alteration."

Gomez Arias promised easily to remove all difficulties with his bride,
if Don Alonso would immediately use his influence with the Queen, and
urge the necessity of the delay. He was aware that the high spirit of
Leonor would, under any circumstances, deeply resent such a measure;
still he confidently relied on his own abilities and persuasion to
overrule any objection on her part. He hurried therefore to her
apartment, craved admittance, which was granted, and found himself
before his intended bride, rendered still more beautiful by the costly
ornaments with which she was adorned.

"Well, Don Lope," said she smiling, while surveying herself in the
mirror, "what think you of my appearance?"

"As of a divinity to whom I bend in adoration," gallantly replied Gomez
Arias, and taking her hand he pressed it to his lips with respectful
tenderness.

Leonor replied to this mark of her lover's regard with a look of
affection.

"But," exclaimed she, laughing, "I cannot compliment Senor Don Lope,
upon the taste of his toilet. No doubt he will tell me that his
imagination has been altogether engrossed with my beauty, and that he
has not bestowed a single thought upon himself: however," she continued
in the same strain, "from the respect we owe to the Queen, and the noble
friends who will honor us with their presence, it will be necessary to
recall the attention of the cavalier, even to so unworthy a subject as
himself."

She was still proceeding, when Gomez Arias, who considered every moment
he lost of vital importance in the arrangement of his plans, resolved at
once to acquaint her with his determination.

"It seems fated, dear Leonor," he said, "that I am to experience a
greater share of disappointment than usually falls to the lot of man;
scarcely has the late impediment to our union been remov