Part 26 (1/2)
As Zappa was speaking, Nina rose, and as she stood in the recess of the ith the bea up her countenance, which would otherwise have been cast in shadow, her figure appeared to grow more pure and ethereal, even to the eyes of the fierce and lawless pirate Her fair and slender hands were clasped on her bosom, while she turned on hiled, as she answered--
”I would gladly do your will in all things; I would willingly afford aid to one in distress, to one who undeservedly suffers, who is torn from her kindred and friends; but speak not to me of jealousy, Zappa, I have trusted you too much, I love you too devotedly, as you well know, to be influenced by such a feeling Let the lady arrive when she irl! even as she spoke, the first pangs of the deadly poison had shot through her heart, though she knew not as the cause of the feeling which oppressed her She thought it was the indifference of his tone, the light carelessness of his words which gave her pain, yet he was always accustos serious or sacred he paid little regard
”I will not, then, suppose you jealous, Nina, since you like it not to be suspected that you are even capable of the feeling,” answered the pirate, throwing hi; ”I shall not, however, yet put you to the test, but when the lady arrives you will treat her as one to whom all courtesy is due”
”I have pro in the position she had assumed at a distance frolance your eye repulsively on ht suppose that I were a aze on”
Nina burst into tears
”You are unkind and I am weak,” she exclaimed passionately ”You confess to me that you are a pirate and a robber, that your hand is stained with the blood of your fellow-men--of men not slain because they are the eneuard the treasure coht to loathe and detest you, and yet I cannot--I love, I love you still”
And she sank down on her knees at his feet, and hiding her face in the cushi+ons of the divan, gave way to a flood of tears, while her boso for existence
Zappa gazed at her for so, till the paroxysht have been a less a down, he raised her in his ar you, lovely one,” he said, in a soft tone ”I am not the blood-stained monster I painted myself My hand has never slain a fellow-man except in self-defence; and is not so unworthy as you would believe to be clasped in yours Besides, Nina, you are, as far as your church ood or for evil, for wealth or for poverty, and must not, sweet one, play the tyrant over me But a truce with this folly--I a up; ”I have ive about et-- even for your sake,--and Ithe fortifications of our island--for, with enemies on all sides, these are not times e can trust to our remote position as before, and to such old defences as nature has provided Farewell; and when I return, leton those sweet lips”
He kissed her as he spoke; and, without waiting for an answer, he quitted the cha the steps of the tower She hid her face in her hands, and there see the power to obey his commands
CHAPTER TWENTY
We left Ada Garden virtually a prisoner on board a vessel which she believed a Greek e continued without the anchor being dropped Sometimes the vessel was steered in one direction, soed by the appearance of the sun, as it was seen fro towards the east and north Fortunately the weather continued fine, and they were able to have the ports open the whole of the day, which in a slight degreedeprived of the free air of the deck Generally, also, the as fair, when it cah the ports; but some days it blew more ahead, and then Ada could feel the vessel heel over as the canvas felt its force; and, at ti soe, as the continuation of the sanor Paolo had visited the cabin every day; but he was silent and reserved as at first, and she failed to obtain any inforht he appeared as if he would have spoken more; but, each time he was about to do so, fear see
Her health, under his judicious treatradually improved till she had recovered as th as she could expect to do, without the benefit of more air and exercise than she could enjoy in the cabin But her spirits remained much depressed at the uncertainty of her own future fate, of that of her uncle, and with the thoughts of the anguish she knew Fleetould endure at her loss
”Could I but let hireat inconvenience, oh, hoould relieve ht that at that very ti the seas on board his shi+p in search of her
At last the vessel was once h the water There seemed to her more bustle and aniun came off from the shore--it was answered by a loud report from on board, accompanied by a wild cheer from those on deck; and, a short tie voices were heard alongside--and looking out of the stern-ports, high cliffs arose before her eyes She and Marianna continued gazing out of their prison at the strange scent before thee-looking beings pulling in boats round the shi+p A others, one appeared to leave the vessel and take a direct course towards the shore
”Oh! signora, look there--look there!” cried Marianna ”There is Signor Paolo going to leave us”
Ada did look, but her eye scarcely rested on Paolo, for it caught sight of one who sat next to hirasped her attendant's aroes the pirate Zappa, and we are his prisoners”
”Oh! don't say such a thing, signora,” cried Marianna, treht Yet, surely he could not have had any command on board such a quiet, well-ordered vessel as this has been?”
”I fear that I am not mistaken in his identity--and his appearance explains everything,” said Ada ”What can he intend now by leaving the vessel? Try the doors and see if we are still prisoners in the cabin”
Marianna found the door closed as before, and she and her mistress sat downthat her last hope of escape had vanished
They remained thus for some time, till they were startled by the abrupt entrance of Paolo into the cabin He apologised, on seeing Ada's look of surprise
”Pardon nora; I have been sent by the captain of the shi+p to express his regret that your apartret that you will have to reer on board”
”Excuses are superfluous, when no choice is allowed htiness in herseen Paolo in coard hi e