GENTLENESS IS POWER. . ise 
as being the image of her. Be kind to all my poor pensioners; I 
leave you them as my legacy ” and with a choked voice she hurried 
from the room, followed by the streaming eyes and bewildered looks 
of her unfortunate parent. “Stay for the lords in waiting!” said 
he, but she was out of reach of his voice ; and with an hysterical sob 
he sank into a chair. 
Caranza was seated in her palanquin, and the procession had be- 
gun to move towards the city gate, followed by the whole popula- 
tion, every individual striving to obtain a parting look from the 
beautiful object of their idolatry. Numberless were the sighs, and 
the ejaculations, and the bewailings, and the heart-burnings, that 
arose from the mass, as her very lovely and gentle face passed before 
them. She made a strong effort to be serene, and even to smile, 
but the evident failure of the endeavour the more strongly smote 
upon their hearts, and their poor untutored sorrow overswelled all 
bounds. As she approached the city gate, a rush was made by the 
young and robust to gain a last look. She waved her hand, saying 
she “hoped soon to see them again ;” when the sound of her own 
voice at that place and juncture of time (the moment of quitting 
for ever all that was dear to her), burst the floodgates of sorrow ; 
and, bowing her head, she gave free course to the torrent. 
Aborzuf waited the approach of his prize, his heart beating high 
at the success of his dictate ; and scarcely could he allow the prin- 
cess to draw near to his tent, when, darting forward with the spring 
of a tiger, he was at her side, and with a chuckle of exultation 
seized her hand. His advance towards her, although partak- 
ing of the ferocity of his character, was intended to be anything 
rather than revolting; but, indeed, he could not conceal the impe- 
tuosity of his delight. Caranza was prepared for an exterior of 
more than ordinary ill favour, and she was prepared for a savage- 
ness of manner ; her imagination, however, apprehensive and vivid 
as it was, had fallen short of both realities; nothing like Aborzuf 
in either quality had ever before been presented to her. The sud- 
denness, therefore, of his approach, added to the absolute contact 
with him, produced a revulsion which caused every nerve to throb 
and tingle with anguish. With great promptness and rapidity of 
utterance he ran over several common-places, ending with “ Our 
royal brother and father-in-law, madam, has not seen fit to sanction 
our union with his presence: he no doubt has been well counselled. 
We will return home without delay.’ The order was instantly 
given, when the whole army struck their tents, and commenced a 
rapid retreat. 
