I thought of my own ill fortunes, and I said within me: True Love sits at the door of the heart to guard it from all evil passions. Loss and Pain may enter in, and Sorrow bear them company; but Revenge and Cruelty, Untruth, and all their evil kin, must hide their shamed faces and pass by! Secure in the thought of the pure affection that reigned in my own bosom, I went forth and met Temptation, and straightway fell from the high 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? Deny it not, 'tis writ most plainly in the dark shadows round those great blue eyes. Come, rest here beside me"--and she drew me down upon the couch and slipped a soft pillow under my head. I was fairly dumfounded at this unwonted courtesy, and could find no words to meet it with. But she appeared unconscious of my silence and continued 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 in view?" 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 my cheek. "Oh, senora, you will aid me to save him! You will plead with the Governor--you will set him free?" She drew back coldly. "You ask too much. I have told you that there are two Governors in San Augustin--I divide the honours with Melinza; but I plead 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 Orosia de Colis there is at present an armed peace; since each holds a hostage. Not that I care anything for the Englishman, but my husband is undesirous of defying the commands of the Council. Although he bears no love to your nation, he maintains that it is not the policy of our government, at present, to ignore openly the friendly relations that are supposed to exist between the Crowns of England and of Spain. It seems that the duplicate of the Council's orders has been sent to the Governor of your new settlement on this coast; and if he sends hither to demand the delivery of the prisoners, Senor de Colis would rather choose to yield 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 the picture. "Melinza sets his own desires in the scale, and they outweigh all politic scruples. He has sworn that so long as I stand between him and you, so long will Senor Rivers remain in the castle dungeon,--unless Death steps kindly in to set your lover free." A little sob broke in my throat at these cruel words. Dona Orosia laid her hand on mine. "Poor little one!" she said. "You pity me, senora! What is your pity worth?" I demanded, forcing back the tears.