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for her name is now Antonia； she is a Christian； and waits to be your
bride。〃 Fadrique stood fixed with surprise； but Heimbert's true…
hearted words and Antonia's lovely blushes soon revealed the happy
enigma to him。 He sank down before the longed…for form with a sense
of exquisite delight； and in the midst of the inhospitable desert the
flowers of love and gratitude and confidence sent their sweetness
heavenward。
The excitement of this happy surprise at last gave way to bodily
fatigue。 Antonia； like some drooping blossom； stretched her fair
form on the again burning sand； and slumbered under the protection of
her lover and her chosen brother。 〃Sleep also；〃 said Heimbert softly
to Fadrique； 〃you must have wandered about wildly and wearily； for
exhaustion is pressing down your eyelids with leaden weight。 I am
quite fresh； and I will watch meanwhile。〃 〃Ah； Heimbert；〃 sighed the
noble Castilian； 〃my sister is thine； thou messenger from Heaven；
that is an understood thing。 But now for our affair of honor！〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Heimbert； very gravely； 〃as soon as we are again in
Spain； you must give me satisfaction for that over…hasty expression。
Till then； however； I beg you not to mention it。 An unfinished
quarrel is no good subject for conversation。〃
Fadrique laid himself sadly down to rest； overcome by long…resisted
sleep； and Heimbert knelt down with a glad heart； thanking the good
God for having given him success； and for blessing； him with a future
full of joyful assurance。
CHAPTER XVI。
The next day the three travellers reached the edge of the desert； and
refreshed themselves for a week in an adjacent village； which； with
its shady trees and green pastures； seemed like a little paradise in
contrast to the joyless Sahara。 Fadrique's condition especially made
this rest necessary。 He had never left the desert during the whole
time； gaining his subsistence by fighting with wandering Arabs； and
often almost exhausted by the utter want of all food and drink。 At
length he had become so thoroughly confused that the stars could no
longer guide him； and he had been driven about； sadly and objectless；
like the dust clouds of the desert。
Even now； at times； when he would fall asleep after the midday meal；
and Antonia and Heimbert would watch his slumbers like two smiling
angels； he would suddenly start up and gaze round him with a
terrified air； and then it was not till he had refreshed himself by
looking at the two friendly faces that he would sink back again into
quiet repose。 When questioned on the matter； after he was fully
awake； he told them that in his wanderings nothing had been more
terrible to him than the deluding dreams which had transported him；
sometimes to his own home； sometimes to the merry camp of his
comrades； and sometimes into Zelinda's presence； and then leaving him
doubly helpless and miserable in the horrible solitude as the
delusion vanished。 It was on this account that even now waking was
fearful to him； and even in sleep a vague consciousness of his past
sufferings would often disturb him。 〃You cannot imagine it；〃 he
added。 〃To be suddenly transported from well…known scenes into the
boundless desert！ And instead of the longed…for enchanting face of
my beloved； to see an ugly camel's head stretched over me
inquisitively with its long neck； starting back as I rose with still
more ugly timidity！〃
This； with all other painful consequences of his past miseries； soon
wholly vanished； from Fadrique's mind； and they cheerfully set out on
their journey to Tunis。 The consciousness； indeed； of his injustice
to Heimbert and its unavoidable results often lay like a cloud upon
the noble Spaniard's brow； but it also softened the natural proud
severity of his nature； and Antonia could cling the more tenderly and
closely to him with her loving heart。
Tunis； which had been before so amazed at Zelinda's magic power and
enthusiastic hostility against the Christians； now witnessed
Antonia's solemn baptism in a newly…consecrated edifice； and soon
after the three companions took ship with a favorable wind for
Malaga。
CHAPTER XVII。
Beside the fountain where she had parted from Heimbert； Dona Clara
was sitting one evening in deep thought。 The guitar on her knees
gave forth a few solitary chords； dreamily drawn from it； as it were；
by her delicate hands； and at length forming themselves into a
melody； while the following words dropped softly from her partly
opened lips：
〃Far away； 'fore Tunis ramparts；
Where the Christian army lies；
Paynim host are fiercely fighting
With Spanish troops and Spain's allies。
Who from bloodstained lilies there；
And death's roses pale and fair
Who has borne the conquerer's prize？
〃Ask Duke Alba； ask Duke Alba；
Which two knights their fame have proved；
One was my own valiant brother；
The other was my heart's beloved。
And I thought that I should crown them；
Doubly bright with glory's prize；
And a widow's veil is falling
Doubly o'er my weeping eyes；
For the brave knights ne'er again
Will be found mid living men。〃
The music paused； and soft dew…drops fell from her heavenly eyes。
Heimbert； who was concealed under the neighboring orange…trees； felt
sympathetic tears rolling down his cheeks； and Fadrique； who had led
him and Antonia there； could no longer delay the joy of meeting； but
stepping forward with his two companions he presented himself before
his sister； like some angelic messsenger。
Such moments of extreme and sudden delight； the heavenly blessings
long expected and rarely vouchsafed； are better imagined by each
after his own fashion； and it is doing but an ill service to recount
all that this one did and that one said。 Picture it therefore to
yourself； dear reader； after your own fancy； as you are certainly far
better able to do； if the two loving pairs in my story have become
dear to you and you have grown intimite with them。 If that； however；
be not the case； what is the use of wasting unnecessary words？ For
the benefit of those who with heart…felt pleasure could have lingered
over this meeting of the sister with her brother and her lover； I
will proceed with increased confidence。 Although Heimbert； casting
a significant look at Fadrique； was on the point of retiring as soon
as Antonia had been placed under Dona Clara's protection； the noble
Spaniard would not permit him。 He detained his companion…in…arms
with courteous and brotherly requests that he would remain till the
evening repast； at which some relatives of the Mendez family joined
the party； and in their presence Fadrique declared the brave Heimbert
of Waldhausen to be Dona Clara's fiance； sealing the betrothal with
the most solemn words； so that it might remain indissoluble； whatever
might afterward occur which should seem inimica