THERESA ABRUZZI. 129 



He sank on his knee, and pressed her hand to his lips. " For- 

 give me, Theresa, if I doubted thee for a moment. I am a 

 wretched bewildered outcast. Alas ! it may be that you are yet 

 a stranger to my utter destitution and misery ! " The tears of 

 Theresa fell fast on his burning cheek. " That misery, Marco, 

 could alone excuse this unmanly burst of passion. I know much 

 — perhaps not all ; tell me the worst." 



" I am ruined, Theresa ! and by whom ! — my fond misguided 

 father ! I rnight indeed" — and his eyes flashed fire as he spoke, 

 " I might yet whistle off these gasping creditors, and laugh their 

 claims to scorn : they cannot compel — Away, away, unworthy 

 thought! shall I outrage the memory of my departed sire, and, 

 to uphold my own name, abandon his to scorn and contumely ? 

 No, Theresa, not even for thee, all angel as thou art, could I 

 blast the honor of my dead father." 



" Marco ! my own, noble Marco, dearer to me in this lone 

 hour than in thy zenith of fame and fortune ! whatever be thy 

 fate, Theresa is still thine ! By yon blue heaven I swear never to 

 wed another ! " 



" My angelic Theresa ! " 



" Nay, nay, my friend, I but renew a vow yielded under hap- 

 pier auspices. My faith was given to thee alone; art thou not 

 still Marco ! — Let all things change but woman's love ! be mine 

 like yon glorious star, that shines more brightly as the light of 

 day recedes ! " 



" Is this well done, young man?" said the count breaking 

 hastily on their conference; '^ is it well done to intrude on the 

 privacy of my daughter? have the doors of my house been closed 

 against you, that you thus seek entrance by unaccustomed paths ?" 



" Your pardon count ! " replied Marco somewhat proudly ; 

 " if to avoid the casual encounter of menials, who might look 

 with scorn on my altered fortunes, need grace or pardon. I knew 

 not that I should be so blest as to meet my Theresa here." 



" Well, well," cried the count abruptly, " be your motives as 

 they might, it is now time we should understand each other." 



Marco shuddered, but spoke not. 



The count continued, with some embarrassment : — " You must 

 be quite aware that our projected alliance is now at an end." 



"My father;" cried Theresa faintly. 



"At an end?" repeated Marco. 



"The count does but jest with you," exclaimed tlie countess, 

 coming forward. 



VOL VI. — 18 35. R 



