Part 47 (1/2)
”To me such seemeth to be his deportment, and a young mind might be pardoned some exultation at such a result. But I have come to speak of Don Luis and thy ward. Now that thy nephew hath given me this high proof of his perseverance and courage, there can remain no longer any reason for forbidding their union. Thou know'st that I hold the pledged word of Dona Mercedes, not to marry without my consent, and this night will I make her happy as I feel myself, by leaving her mistress of her own wishes; nay, by letting her know that I desire to see her Countess of Llera, and that right speedily.”
”Your Highness is all goodness to me and mine,” returned the Marchioness, coldly. ”Mercedes ought to feel deeply grateful that her royal mistress hath a thought for her welfare, when her mind hath so many greater concerns to occupy it.”
”It is that, my friend, that hath brought me hither at this late hour.
My soul is truly burdened with grat.i.tude, and ere I sleep, were it possible, I would fain make all as blessed as I feel myself. Where is thy ward?”
”She left me for the night, but as your Highness entered. I will summon her to hear your pleasure.”
”We will go to her, Beatriz; tidings such as I bring, should not linger on weary feet.”
”It is her duty, and it would be her pleasure to pay all respect, Senora.”
”I know that well, Marchioness, but it is my pleasure to bear this news myself,” interrupted the queen, leading the way to the door. ”Show thou the way, which is better known to thee than to another. We go with little state and ceremony, as thou seest, like Colon going forth to explore his unknown seas, and we go bearers of tidings as grateful to thy ward, as those the Genoese bore to the benighted natives of c.i.p.ango.
These corridors are our trackless seas, and all these intricate pa.s.sages, the hidden ways we are to explore.”
”Heaven grant your Highness make not some discovery as astounding as that which the Genoese hath just divulged. For myself, I scarce know whether to believe all things, or to grant faith to none.”
”I wonder not at thy surprise; it is a feeling that hath overcome all others, through the late extraordinary events,” answered the queen, evidently misconceiving the meaning of her friend's words. ”But we have still another pleasure in store: that of witnessing the joy of a pure female heart which hath had its trials, and which hath borne them as became a Christian maiden.”
Dona Beatriz sighed heavily, but she made no answer. By this time they were crossing the little saloon in which Mercedes was permitted to receive her female acquaintances, and were near the door of her chamber.
Here they met a maid, who hastened onward to inform her mistress of the visit she was about to receive. Isabella was accustomed to use a mother's liberties with those she loved, and, opening the door, without ceremony, she stood before our heroine, ere the latter could advance to meet her.
”Daughter,” commenced the queen, seating herself, and smiling benignantly on the startled girl, ”I have come to discharge a solemn duty. Kneel thou here, at my feet, and listen to thy sovereign as thou wouldst listen to a mother.”
Mercedes gladly obeyed, for, at that moment, any thing was preferable to being required to speak. When she had knelt, the queen pa.s.sed an arm affectionately round her neck, and drew her closer to her person, until, by a little gentle violence, the face of Mercedes was hid in the folds of Isabella's robe.
”I have all reason to extol thy faith and duty, child,” said the queen, as soon as this little arrangement to favor the feelings of Mercedes, had been considerately made; ”thou hast not forgotten thy promise, in aught; and my object, now, is to leave thee mistress of thine own inclinations, and to remove all impediments to their exercise. Thou hast no longer any pledge with thy sovereign; for one who hath manifested so much discretion and delicacy, may be surely trusted with her own happiness.”
Mercedes continued silent, though Isabella fancied that she felt a slight shudder pa.s.sing convulsively through her delicate frame.
”No answer, daughter? Is it more preferable to leave another arbitress of thy fate, than to exercise that office for thyself? Well, then, as thy sovereign and parent, I will subst.i.tute command for consent, and tell thee it is my wish and desire that thou becomest, as speedily as shall comport with propriety and thy high station, the wedded wife of Don Luis de Bobadilla, Conde de Llera.”
”No--no--no--Senora--never--never”--murmured Mercedes, her voice equally stifled by her emotions, and by the manner in which she had buried her face in the dress of the queen.
Isabella looked at the Marchioness of Moya in wonder. Her countenance did not express either displeasure or resentment, for she too well knew the character of our heroine to suspect caprice, or any weak prevarication in a matter that so deeply touched the feelings; and the concern she felt was merely overshadowed at the suddenness of the intelligence, by a feeling of ungovernable surprise.
”Canst thou explain this, Beatriz?” the queen at length inquired. ”Have I done harm, where I most intended good? I am truly unfortunate, for I appear to have deeply wounded the heart of this child, at the very moment I fancied I was conferring supreme happiness!”
”No--no--no--Senora,” again murmured Mercedes, clinging convulsively to the queen's knees. ”Your Highness hath wounded no one--_would_ wound no one--_can_ wound no one--you are all gracious goodness and thoughtfulness.”
”Beatriz, I look to thee for the explanation! Hath aught justifiable occurred to warrant this change of feeling?”
”I fear, dearest Senora, that the feelings continue too much as formerly, and that the change is not in this young and unpractised heart, but in the fickle inclinations of man.”
A flash of womanly indignation darted from the usually serene eyes of the queen, and her form a.s.sumed all of its native majesty.
”Can this be true?” she exclaimed. ”Would a subject of Castile _dare_ thus to trifle with his sovereign--thus to trifle with one sweet and pure as this girl--thus to trifle with his faith with G.o.d! If the reckless Conde thinketh to do these acts of wrongfulness with impunity, let him look to it! Shall I punish him that merely depriveth his neighbor of some paltry piece of silver, and let him escape who woundeth the soul? I wonder at thy calmness, Daughter-Marchioness; thou, who art so wont to let an honest indignation speak out in the just language of a fearless and honest spirit!”
”Alas! Senora, my beloved mistress, my feelings have had vent already, and nature will no more. This boy, moreover, is my brother's son, and when I would fain arouse a resentment against him, such as befitteth his offence, the image of that dear brother, whose very picture he is, hath arisen to my mind in a way to weaken all its energy.”