startled by a sudden knocking at her chamber door, and the voice of Senor Lopez, who bade her close the casement immediately and retire to her couch. Reluctantly obeying the imperious mandate, she waved a grateful acknowledgment to the handsome cavalier, who bowed with ardent respect as she vanished from his sight ; and then she sought her couch-but not to sleep. Her thoughts had now a more agreeable subject for meditation, and she reflected upon it with sanguine and delightful anticipations. A new life seemed dawning upon hera life of love and happiness, in which is comprised woman's chief existence ; and a still small voice whispered to her heart that its yearnings were not all in vain-that it might yet pour out its treasures without reserve, and receive a grateful return, while the world would be no longer to her so lonely and dreary as it had ever seemed since her mother's death.
Slumber at length closed her eyelids, and her dreams were of a most blissful nature, for they imaged forth visions of love and lovers singing and playing amid rosy bowers, while her unknown " Velasco" appeared to be their king, and still paid all homage to her-choosing her out from among the loveliest to be his bride and queen. Her breast seemed thrilling with an almost suffocating feeling of rapture, and her heart swelling full, nearly to bursting with the intensity of its joys, until arriving as it were at the summit of bliss, those bright fancies were suddenly dissipated by the entrance of a hideous dragon amidst that fairy scene to fright her from its enjoyment. She awoke, and her thoughts reverted back to the incidents of the evening previous, while they seemed almost too delightful for reality, and she could hardly convince herself that they were not also a portion of her dream. But there lay the rose withering upon her toilet, to which she ran and read over and over again the sweet confession that " Velasco ! loved her with all his heart !" She was satisfied that had been no delusion, and with an indescribable expression of delight and wonder blendingly depicted upon her sunny features, she pressed the mute messenger to her coral lips, and smiled as if its very fragrance breathed of love.
"He loves me ! he loves me !" she exclaimed in the exuberance of her joy, which was, however, immediately checked by a more serious reflection. "But who is it that loves me ?" she musingly asked herself. "Who is Senor Velasco ?" She could not imagine whom he might be, for she had never heard the name, and was therefore unable to conclude whether he was a noble, or hidalgo-though he must be a perfect gentleman, or he would never have devised such an exquisitely romantic mode of expressing his passion to her. " And does he really love me ?" She mused ; but this, the more she reflected upon it, seemed as puzzling as the rest, for how was she to determine whether he intended it all as some mere passing act of gallantry, or was sincere in his professions ? Yet even then it was bliss to believe the doubtful equivocation, that “ lies like truth."
From morn till night, the image of that handsome cavalier, and the flattering words of his song, so occupied her mind that she could think of little else ; while she sat humming over, the pleasing air, and gazing upon the place where she last saw him wafting kisses toward her on the wings of night, and as intently as if he were still visible to her sight. Her wakeful fancies now conjured up dreams again similar to her midnight vision ; but they were also doomed to be dispelled by a phantom equally as horrible and appearing more like reality than the former.
Three days afterwards, Senor Lopez congratulatingly informed her that she was a betrothed bride ! and that her marriage would take place in the course of a few short weeks! She was astonished ! aye, utterly confounded by the unexpected intelligence ; and sooth there was indeed ample reason, for this was the first intimation she had received of such being a probable occurrence. However, after the first shock of the startling communication had passed over, she began to console herself with the reflection that it must be " Velasco" who had thus suddenly proposed for her ; but as her guardian continued, she nearly fainted with the sudden reaction which chilled her hopes.
"You see, my dear, Don Emanuel, who is a nobleman at Madrid, has written to me, soliciting the honor of your hand in marriage. Knowing well his state and importance, I returned him my consent immediately.'
" But you could not give him my consent !" said she in a tone of deep reproach.
" Oh, no ! you will give that as a matter of course !" he replied, laughing, without appearing to think that she could have the slightest objection to so advantageous a match.
Dona Constanza felt ready to weep with indignation ; but womanly pride sustained her, and she returned in a tone that was intended to signify her firmness, though her voice was tremulous with emotion. " Then, Senor, as a matter of course, I will not give my consent ; but will rather enter a convent than marry Don Emanueleven though he were the king himself!" And she turned quickly from the presence of her mercenary guardian toward her chamber, there to give relief to her sorrows and vexation by a flood of tears. She was very angry with him for such impertinent officiousness ; as indeed what young maiden would not have been, thus to be disposed of, like a horse or a slave- to have a husband selected and agreed upon, and her own approval and consent to an arrangement, usually the most important of any in woman's life, deemed of very little account -but to follow, however, as a " matter of course." She knew nothing of Don Emanuel, except that his name
