Wilt come with me, my child ?" "Ay, any where! That voice could not deceive: but 'tis all vain," she continued, the first accents of awakened hope lost in despondency--"I cannot rise." "It needs not.

Do thou hold the lantern, Marie; utter not a word--check even thy breath--and the God of thy fathers shall save thee yet." He raised her gently in his arms; and the hope of liberty, of rescue from Don Luis, gave her strength to grasp the light to guide them.

She could not trace their way, but she felt they left the dungeon, and traversed many long, damp, and narrow passages, seemingly excavated in the solid earth.

All was silent, and dark as the tomb; now and then her guide paused, as if to listen; but there was no sound.

He knew well the secret paths he trod.
The rapid motion, even the sudden change, almost deprived Marie of consciousness.