Come, obey me." Mary arose without reply, and took the seat offered her by the duenna.

She was very pale, and her eyes were swollen from weeping.
The duenna looked upon her with an eye of pity; she took her hand, and said, gently: "Mary, my child, you cannot continue this; such an excess of sorrow would shorten your days.

And what pain to the poor Geronimo on his return, to find you condemned to a short and suffering life! Through love for him, I beg you to control yourself." "On his return ?" repeated Mary, raising her tearful eyes to heaven.
"Why not ?" replied the duenna.

"Why despair before being certain of the evil you dread?
More extraordinary things have happened." "Already five days--five centuries of suspense and fear! Ah! Petronilla, what a frightful night I passed! I saw Geronimo extended on the ground, the pallor of death on his face, a large wound was in his breast, and his lifeless eyes were fixed on me as if with his last breath he had bade me adieu." "These are illusions caused by grief, Mary." "More than twenty times I saw him thus; in vain I strove to shut out the horrible vision; day alone brought me relief." The duenna took her hand, and said, tenderly: "You are wrong, Mary, to cherish your grief in this manner.

Your dreams at night were but the reflection of your thoughts by day.