“Father!” interrupted the young King, with a steadier voice, “I feel that another world will re-unite us: I love you, I owe you infinite gratitude, my soul thirsts to pay its debt, but here it cannot be; our different creeds, and different fates, sever us decisively. It is for this necessity you blame me; you are good and just according to your judgment, yet you wrong me, and it is only in another existence, that learning my motives, you will cease to condemn my actions. O my father! time, suffering, and reflection, have assured me, (me, who once persecuted unto death) that all who sincerely love their God, and his creatures; all who strive conscientiously to fulfil what they believe to be his law; whether they be Jew or Gentile, whether disciples of Christ or of Mahomet, will, at the last great day, be accepted into his heavenly kingdom.” Tefza gazed at him as he would have eyed the opening Heavens, then catching him in his arms, he cried in an ardent tone, “I _will_ think so, my son, I _will_ think so; it is impossible that such a soul as thine should be devoted to perdition.” The Christian and the Mahometan wept in each others arms: that fierce and indignant Sebastian, whom the slightest shew of authority inflamed to madness, was in a single moment softened to woman’s tenderness, and wrought to regret the necessity which severed him from one whom so lately he had opposed and upbraided. “When we have been separated one year,” said he, as he rose from the neck of the good Hadgé, “ask of Abensallah my story; he will tell it you, for I have instructed him in it. You will then pity and pardon me perhaps--at least you will own that only the strongest affections, and the most powerful duties, tear me from you.” Sebastian hastily embraced him while speaking, and was going to break away, when Tefza put into his hands one of those beautiful shawls which the Moors call Haegs, requesting him to accept and wear it for his sake. “Think of my paternal love when thou dost first unfold it,” he said faintly, “may the great prophet forgive thy blindness, and bless thee wherever thou goest. Alas! Fabian! thou didst make life dear to me, what will it be soon?” Pierced, penetrated with honorable regret, Sebastian turned again to embrace him, exclaiming--“You rive my heart, Tefza, for God’s sake cease.--how it would console me to think that you and Abensallah spent your days together.” At this suggestion the countenance of the Hadgé suddenly brightened, he grasped his young companion’s hand, saying in a more animated tone, “Would it console thee? then I promise it,--that pious man will not refuse my wish to share his peaceful abode--my wealth shall become in his hand the property of others:--together will we talk of thee my son--together will we pray for thee: then wilt thou think of us together?” Sebastian joyfully promised to do so, and once more embracing Tefza, tore himself away.