The fear of either wounding the honour of Abbas, or of staining his own by an appearance of baseness, made Sebastian for the first time in his life easily accessible to the suspicion of a woman’s attachment, but how was he to act?--it was impossible for him to recede from the promises already given, which bound him to secrecy, and to receive the orphan boy. He waited the day-break with extreme solicitude.--At the appointed time his protegée arrived; he came attended by the old slave of Maimuna, who presenting him with a costly gift from his mistress, hastily disappeared. CHAP. III. The boy, who was very young and very timid, stood looking down with an air of gentleness which attracted kindness; his extreme youth immediately destroyed the suspicion which Maimuna’s conversation had first raised, since a passion for him was preposterous to suppose: at this conviction Sebastian felt his embarrassment and apprehension increase, but he approached the youth, and taking his hand, said to him, “Is it still your wish, Zaphna, to leave the security of a gentle lady’s house, for the vicissitudes of a camp?--Nature stamps us all with the impress of her intentions; and _your_ delicate frame has not been moulded from the clay she makes soldiers of,--let me then advise you to read your fate better, and to desist from this wild desire.” Zaphna withdrew his hand from that of the King, and without raising his eyes from the ground, or moving his head, which was bashfully averted, he replied in a low voice, “I thought, Sir Knight, that you had promised my lady to receive me? do not injure my indulgent mistress by imagining that even your persuasions can avail, where hers have failed. I am resolved to accompany the army.” The firm tone of his last words caused Sebastian to smile: “I see you are unused to opposition;” he observed, “but my pretty friend, you must remember that to serve a rough soldier will be a very different task from that of living in the lap of a soft mistress, whom your boyish petulancies may entertain. You must expect infinite hardships and privations with me; however, count upon my affection for you, and my zeal for your lady; and when I return you to her, tell her that for one dear, absent woman’s sake, I am thus obedient to the wishes of another.” The boy blushed for his lady, as if he felt what Sebastian meant to convey; but he spoke not; his hands pressed on his heart, and his head bent still lower, expressed obedience. The King then described the few duties he would require of him; and hearing the sound of the trumpets, hastened away to join Sir Anthony Shirley, and to go with him to the field. They rode together towards the troops; while Zaphna took charge of his master’s war-equipage and Barémel; and seated beside them in a covered sort of carriage, made one in a long line of baggage.