CHAPTER XV.
I awoke this morning with a sense of horror haunting me,--and then Irecalled the scene of yesterday and the dumb appeal in the eyes of thedying hound. The story the Spanish woman had told me of her own pastpleaded nothing in excuse. Hatred and cruelty seemed strange fruit forlove to bear.
I thought of my own ill fortunes, and I said within me: True Love sitsat the door of the heart to guard it from all evil passions. Loss andPain may enter in, and Sorrow bear them company; but Revenge andCruelty, Untruth, and all their evil kin, must hide their shamed facesand pass by!
Secure in the thought of the pure affection that reigned in my ownbosom, I went forth and met Temptation, and straightway fell from thehigh path in which I believed my feet to be so surely fixed!
Dona Orosia seemed to be in a strangely gentle mood.
"Child, how pale thy face is! Didst thou not lie awake all night? Denyit not, 'tis writ most plainly in the dark shadows round those greatblue eyes. Come, rest here beside me"--and she drew me down upon thecouch and slipped a soft pillow under my head.
I was fairly dumfounded at this unwonted courtesy, and could find nowords to meet it with. But she appeared unconscious of my silence andcontinued speaking.
"'Tis the thought of the English lover that robs thee of sleep,Margarita mia! Thou wouldst give thy very life to procure his freedom;is it not so? Would any task be too hard for thee with this end inview?"
I could not answer; I clasped my hands and looked at her in silence.
"I thought as much," she said, smiling, and laid a gentle finger on mycheek.
"Oh, senora, you will aid me to save him! You will plead with theGovernor--you will set him free?"
She drew back coldly. "You ask too much. I have told you that there aretwo Governors in San Augustin--I divide the honours with Melinza; but Iplead with him for naught."
I turned away to hide the quivering of my lip.
"Listen to me," she added more kindly. "Between Pedro Melinza and Orosiade Colis there is at present an armed peace; since each holds ahostage. Not that I care anything for the Englishman, but my husband isundesirous of defying the commands of the Council. Although he bears nolove to your nation, he maintains that it is not the policy of ourgovernment, at present, to ignore openly the friendly relations that aresupposed to exist between the Crowns of England and of Spain. It seemsthat the duplicate of the Council's orders has been sent to the Governorof your new settlement on this coast; and if he sends hither to demandthe delivery of the prisoners, Senor de Colis would rather choose toyield up all, than to risk a reprimand from the authorities at home.
"Dost thou understand all this? Well, let us now see the reverse of thepicture.
"Melinza sets his own desires in the scale, and they outweigh allpolitic scruples. He has sworn that so long as I stand between him andyou, so long will Senor Rivers remain in the castle dungeon,--unlessDeath steps kindly in to set your lover free."
A little sob broke in my throat at these cruel words. Dona Orosia laidher hand on mine.
"Poor little one!" she said.
"You pity me, senora! What is your pity worth?" I demanded, forcing backthe tears.
"I have a way of escape to offer," she answered softly.
"Escape for him? Or for me?"
"For both. Now listen! There is but one way to relax Melinza's hold onSenor Rivers. He would exchange him willingly for you."
"Better for us both to die!" I exclaimed indignantly.
"I would sooner kill you with my own hands than give you up to him,"said Dona Orosia, with a cold smile.
"Then what do you mean, senora?"
"I mean, Margarita mia, that you should feign a tenderness for him andlet him think that it is I who would keep two loving souls apart."
"What! when I have shown him naught but dislike in all these months? Hecould never be so witless as to believe in such a suddentransformation."
"Such is the vanity of man," said Dona Orosia, "that he would find iteasier to believe that you had feigned hatred all this while from fearof me, than to doubt that you had eventually fallen a victim to hisfascinations."
"What would it advantage me if I did deceive him?"
"He would then cease to oppose the liberation of all the otherprisoners."
"But what of my fate, senora?"
"Leave that in my hands, little one,--I am not powerless. I give thee myword he shall never have thee. At the last moment we shall undeceivehim"--and she laughed a low laugh of triumph.
I glanced up quickly.
"So!" I exclaimed. "This will be your revenge! And you would bribe me,with my dear love's freedom, to act a part in it! To lie for you; toplay at love where I feel only loathing; to sully my lips with feignedcaresses; and to make a mockery of the holiest thing in life!"
"Is your Englishman not worth some sacrifice?" she asked, with liftedbrows.
What could I say? I left her. I hastened to my little room, shut fastthe door, and bolted it on the inner side. Then I knelt at the barredwindow and looked out at the sunlight and the sea.
The blue waves danced happily, and the fresh wind kissed the sparklingripples till the foam curled over them--as white lids droop coyly overlaughing eyes. Two snowy gulls dipped and soared, flashing now againstthe blue sky--now into the blue sea. I gazed at their white wings--andthought of all the vain prayers I had sent up to Heaven.
And then the dark hour of my life closed down on me.
I bethought me of my father, that loyal gentleman whose only fault wasthat he served his Prince too well,--a Prince whose gratitude had neverprompted him to inquire concerning that servant's fate, or to offer aword of consolation to the wife who had lost her all. I bethought me ofmy young mother, of her white, tear-stained face, of the long hours shehad spent upon her knees, and how at last she prayed: "Lord! only toknow that he is dead!"--yet she died ignorant.
Then did the devil come to me and whisper: "Of what use is it to havepatience and faith? Does thy God bear thee in mind--or is his memorylike that of the Prince thy father served? Dost thou still believe thatHe doeth all things well, and is there still trust in thy heart? Come,make friends of those who would aid thee--never mind a little lie!Wouldst be happy? Wouldst save thy dear love? Then cease thy vainprayers and take thy fate in thine own hands."
I rose up from my knees and looked out again upon the laughingwaters,--I would do this evil thing that good might come. I would act alying part, and soil my soul, so that I and my dear love might winfreedom and happiness. But I would pray no more--for I could not askGod's blessing on a lie.
Then I went slowly back to where my temptress waited.
"Dona Orosia," I said, "I take your offer. I am young--I would be happy;and you--you would be revenged! I am not the little fool you think me: Iknow you too well to believe that you would aid me out of love; I laughat your pity; but I trust your hate!"
"_Bueno_," she said. "It is enough. We understand one another,--but Imust teach thee the part, or thou wilt fail."
"I am not so simple, senora, I can feign love--for love's sake."
"Yet I would have thee set round with thorns, my sweet. The rose that istoo easy plucked is not worth wearing. And do thou give only promisesand never fulfil them,--I'd baulk him of every kiss he thinks to win!"