“A few brief years,” she said tenderly, “and then my beloved, we _shall_ enjoy it together. I go to prepare a place for thee in that world to which we have so long accustomed ourselves to look for imperishable joys! My soul exhausted with suffering, languishes for the rest of heaven. Shake not thus, my Sebastian--what mortal agony convulses those dear features? Wouldst thou then retain me in a world like this? O! rather rejoice that I am going to leave it. Shall I not breathe my last on thy faithful breast? O blessing! O comfort unutterable!” Sebastian believed at this moment that she was indeed drawing her latest breath; for spent with emotion, her heart ceased to beat, and her eyes closed. He folded her in his arms, and uttering a doleful cry, remained gazing on her pale face with the stare of madness. Alarmed by his voice, his friends and daughter rushed in, and finding that Kara Aziek yet breathed, though almost imperceptibly, they exerted their influence to persuade him to withdraw awhile. During their short absence from the apartment, Don Christopher hesitatingly asked, what measures his King meant to pursue; the vessel that was to carry them to France, lay at anchor two leagues up the coast, and as Kara Aziek could not be moved thither, without the certainty of immediate death, Don Christopher ventured to hint that his sovereign’s safety could only be secured by his departing with him alone. At this friendly suggestion, some of his youthful impetuosity burst from Sebastian: “What! leave her!” he exclaimed, “My Aziek! my wife! my life’s comforter! the very soul of all my past happiness!--no, no, young man. I will stay by her, till heaven restores, or tears her from me: after that blow, all the world will be nothing to the undone Sebastian, and Philip may triumph as he will, over this senseless body. Think of your own safety--I ought to urge you--but my whole soul is swallowed up in one sad object. You have my thanks for your loving care--some other time perhaps,”---- Sebastian could not proceed, and again he returned to the room where he left Kara Aziek. Recovered by the assistance of the Duchess and Blanche, Kara Aziek had strength sufficient to assure them that she was better, and believed herself capable of being removed in any way that was requisite to speed the departure of her husband. To this assurance, Sebastian replied with a steady declaration of his late taken resolution, and being joined by Hyppolito in arguing against the chance of a discovery at a lodge so little known, when the story of his self-murder would lull inquiry, he vanquished the reluctance of Kara Aziek to let him remain beside her. Don Christopher then suggested the prudence of suffering the Duchess to return to St. Lucar, lest her longer absence should create any curiosity, and with an unwilling mind, after receiving again Sebastian’s pledge that he would resign Blanche to Hyppolito, she departed from the fishing lodge.