“To the guilty, yes; even the weak crafty will not stand before her repelling glance:  but what hast thou to fear, my love?  Penetrative as she is, seeming to read the heart through the countenance, she can read nought in thee save qualities to love.  I remember well the eagle glance she fixed on King Ferdinand’s young English favorite, Senor Stanley, the first time he was presented to her.  But she was satisfied, for he ranks as deservedly high in her favor as in her husband’s.  Thou hast heard me speak of this young Englishman, my Marie?”

Her face was at that moment turned from him, or he might have started at its sudden flush; but she assented by a sign.

“He was so full of joyousness and mirth, that to us of graver nature it seemed almost below his dignity as man; and now they tell me he is changed so mournfully; grave, sad, silent, maturity seems to have descended upon him ere he has quite passed boyhood; or he has some secret sorrow, too sacred to be revealed.  There is some talk of his recall from Sicily, he having besought the king for a post of more active and more dangerous service.  Ferdinand loves such daring spirits, and therefore no doubt will grant his boon.  Ha!  Alberic, what is it?” he continued, eagerly, as a page entered, and delivered a packet secured with floss silk, and sealed with the royal signet, adding that it had been brought by an officer of the royal guard, attended by some men at arms.  “Give him welcome suited to his rank, boy:  I will but peruse these, and attend him instantly.”

The page withdrew, and Don Ferdinand, hastily cutting the silk, was speedily so engrossed in his despatches, as to forget for the time even the presence of his wife; and well it was so; for it enabled her with a strong effort to conquer the deadly sickness Morale’s careless words had caused—­the pang of dread accompanying every thought of Arthur’s return to Spain—­to still the throbbing pulse and quivering lip, and, outwardly unmoved, meet his joyous glance once more.

“’Tis as I thought and hoped,” he said, with animation:  “the sovereigns hold their court for some months in this city; coeval, in antiquity, associations, and loyalty, with Valladolid and Leon, Isabella, with her characteristic thought for all her subjects, has decided on making it occasionally the seat of empire alternately with them, and commissions me, under her royal seal, to see the castle fittingly prepared.  Listen, love, what her Grace writes further—­’Take heed, my good lord, and hide not in a casket the brightest gem which we have heard adorns thy home.  We would ourselves judge the value of thy well-hoarded jewel—­not that we doubt its worth; for it would be strange, indeed, if he who hath ever borne off the laurel wreath from the competitors for glory, should not in like manner seek and win the prize of beauty.  In simple language, let Donna Marie be in attendance.’  And so thou shalt, love; and by thy gentle virtues