"And she laid down her poor head so wearily. `When the Lord seeth good,' I answered. `Sometimes,' she said dreamily again, `I want so sorely to go forth. I long so much to breathe the sweet, cool air--to see the cork-trees and the olives. They never bring me so much as an orange flower. Then my head goes wrong, thou seest, when this longing cometh on me; and then--. And sometimes I feel sick, and cannot eat. Then they make me eat with the _cuerda_. I wish Jesus would make haste and help me. I used to understand it all better before I had the _cuerda_. But I had my husband then, and my children around me. Not one of them ever comes now; and there are six [Note 3]. My husband is dead--I think he is; they say so [Note 4]. I think they might have let one of them come, if only just to say "Mother" to me. I cannot understand it now; and it seems so long--so long! _Ay de mi_! if Jesus would come!' "I could not utter another word ere Rosada brake in. `Ines!' she cried in a loud whisper; `what do you here? Know you not, _amiga_, that the Lord Marquis will well-nigh kill you if he find you in this chamber? None of her Highness' women are ever allowed to enter at will. Back, back, as fast as you can go!' "Then, kneeling a moment, she said hastily, `_Criada umilisima de Su Alteza_!' [`The most humble servant of her Highness.'] and arising, pushed me forth of the chamber, and into mine own, almost before I knew what she had said or done. Five minutes later, my Lord of Denia his steps sounded in the corridor. `Thank the holy Virgin and all the saints!' cried Rosada under her breath. `_Amiga_, you know not that man. He would not hesitate one minute to stab you if he found you there, and fancied any cause of suspicion against you. 'Tis forbidden ground--Maria _sin pecado_ [without sin]! How came you in such peril? I knew her never before left alone even a moment.'--`I did but hear her Highness moaning,' I said bewilderedly, `and was moved to go to her.'--`The Devil must have moved you!' she saith breathlessly. `I think rather,' I answered, `saving your presence, Rosada, and not intending you, it was the Devil pushed me forth hither.'--`You mean my Lord Marquis?' quoth she, taking me rightly. `The saints pardon her Highness! You know she is quite out of her mind. She saith all manner of evil of him.' "I thought it better, perchance, to make no answer. But into my mind came a remembrance touching a way wherein the fools should not err; and I thought she should maybe come in at the gates of Heaven afore either Rosada or I. "O Isoult! I would I were forth of this horrible country! It is peopled with devils. Leonor is not one, methinks; nor assuredly is Rosada, neither this my poor sely maiden Maria; but I should find it hard to write a fourth within this palace.