Adventure stories; Spain -- History -- Ferdinand and Isabella, 1479-1516 -- Fiction
It was not until the latter had gone, however, that they remembered
that they had forgotten to ask him whether he had heard anything of the
woman Inez, who had been furnished with his address, but, as he had
said nothing of her, they felt sure that she could not have arrived in
Seville, and once more were much afraid as to what might have happened
after they had left Granada.
That night, to their grief and alarm, a new trouble fell on them. Just
as they finished their supper the governor appeared and said that, by
order of the Court before which they must be tried, the Señor Brome,
who was accused of murder, must be separated from them. So, in spite of
all they could say or do, Peter was led away to a separate cell,
leaving Margaret weeping.
CHAPTER XIX.
BETTY PAYS HER DEBTS.
Betty Dene was not a woman afflicted with fears or apprehensions. Born
of good parents, but in poverty, for six-and-twenty years she had
fought her own way in a rough world and made the best of circumstances.
Healthy, full-blooded, tough, affectionate, romantic, but honest in her
way, she was well fitted to meet the ups and downs of life, to keep her
head above the waters of a turbulent age, and to pay back as much as
she received from man or woman.
Yet those long hours which she passed alone in the high turret chamber,
waiting till they summoned her to play the part of a false bride, were
the worst that she had ever spent. She knew that her position was, in a
sense, shameful, and like to end in tragedy, and, now that she faced it
in cold blood, began to wonder why she had chosen so to do. She had
fallen in love with the Spaniard almost at first sight, though it is
true that something like this had happened to her before with other
men. Then he had played his part with her, till, quite deceived, she
gave all her heart to him in good earnest, believing in her infatuation
that, notwithstanding the difference of their place and rank, he
desired to make her his wife for her own sake.
Afterwards came that bitter day of disillusion when she learned, as
Inez had said to Castell, that she was but a stalking heifer used for
the taking of the white swan, her cousin and mistress—that day when she
had been beguiled by the letter which was still hid in her garments,
and for her pains heard herself called a fool to her face. In her heart
she had sworn to be avenged upon Morella then, and now the hour had
come in which to fulfil her oath and play him back trick for cruel
trick.
Did she still love the man? She could not say. He was pleasing to her
as he had always been, and when that is so women forgive much. This was
certain, however—love was not her guide to-night. Was it vengeance then
that led her on? Perhaps; at least she longed to be able to say to him,
“See what craft lies hid even in the bosom of an outwitted fool.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account