AND THE BLIND SLAVE. 35 



germ of the treasures that it proffers to thy smile. I send these 

 by one that thou wilt receive for her^own sake, if not for mine. 

 She, like us, is a stranger; her father's ashes lie under brighter 

 skies ; but, less happy than we, she is blind and a slave. Poor 

 Nydia ! I seek as much as possible to repair to her the cruelties 

 of Nature, and of Fate, in asking permission to place her with 

 thee. She is gentle, quick, and docile. She is skilled in music 

 and the song; and she is a very Chloris to the flowers. She 

 thinks, lone, that thou wilt love her; if thou dost not, send her 

 back to me. 



"One word more, — Let me be bold, lone. Why thinkest 

 thou so highly of yon dark Egyptian ; he hath not about him 

 the air of honest men ? We Greeks learn mankind from our 

 cradle ; we are not the less profound, in that we affect no som- 

 bre mien ; our lips smile, but our eyes are grave — they observe 

 — they note — they study. Arbaces is not one to be credulously 

 trusted : can it be, that he hath wronged me to thee ? I think it, 

 for I left him with thee ; thou sawest how my presence stung 

 him ; since then thou hast not admitted me. Believe nothing 

 that he can say to my disfavour ; if thou dost, tell me so at once ; 

 for this lone owes to Glaucus. Farewell ! This letter touches 

 thine hand ; these characters meet thine eye — shall they be more 

 blest than he who is their author. Once more, farewell !" 



It seemed to lone, as she read this letter, as if a mist had 

 fallen from her eyes. What had been the supposed offence of 

 Glaucus ? that he had not really loved ! And now, plainly, and 

 in no dubi<^us terms, he confessed that love. From that moment 

 his power was fully restored. At every tender word in that 

 letter, so full of romantic and trustful passion, her heart smote 

 her. And had she doubted his faith, and had she believed 

 another ? and had she not, at least, allowed to him the culprit's 

 right to know his crime, to plead in his defence ? — the tears 

 rolled down her cheeks — she kissed the letter — she placed it in 

 her bosom ; and, turning to Nydia, who stood in the same place, 

 and in the same posture — 



" Wilt thou sit, my child," said she, " while I write an an- 

 swer to this letter ?" 



"You will answer it then?'' said Nydia, coldly; "well the 

 slave that accompanied me will take back your answer." 



"For you," said lone, " stay with me — trust me, your service 

 shall be light." 



Nydia bowed her head. 



