already learned thy smile; and were these the signs of falsehood? Oh,
how I pined for the sound of thy footstep when thou wert gone! how all
the summer had vanished from the landscape; and how, turning to thy
child, I fancied I again beheld thee! The day after thou hadst left me
there was a knock at the cottage; the nurse opened it, and there entered
your former rival, whom my father had sought to force upon me, the
richest of the descendants of the Moor, Arraez Ferrares. Why linger on
this hateful subject? He had tracked us to our home, he had learned thy
absence, he came to insult me with his vows. By the Blessed Mother, whom
thou hast taught me to adore, by the terror and pang of death, by my
hopes of Heaven, I am innocent, Roderigo, I am innocent! Oh, how couldst
thou be so deceived? He quitted the cottage, discomfited and enraged;
again he sought me, and again and again; and when the door was closed
upon him, he waylaid my steps. Lone and defenceless as we were, thy wife
and child, with but one attendant I feared him not; but I trembled at thy
return, for I knew that thou went a Spaniard, a Castilian, and that
beneath thy calm and gentle seeming lurked pride, and jealousy, and
revenge. Thy letter came, the only letter since thy absence, the last
letter from thee I may ever weep over, and lay upon my heart. Thy
relation was dead, and his wealth enriched a nearer heir. Thou wert to
return. The day in which I might expect thee approached--it arrived.
During the last week I had seen and heard no more of Ferrares. I trusted
that he had at length discovered the vanity of his pursuit. I walked
into the valley, thy child in my arms, to meet thee; but thou didst not
come. The sun set, and the light of thine eyes replaced not the
declining day. I returned home, and watched for thee all night, but in
vain. The next morning again I went forth into the valley, and again,
with a sick heart, returned to my desolate home. It was then noon. As I
approached the door I perceived Ferrares. He forced his entrance. I
told him of thy expected return, and threatened him with thy resentment.