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The Spaniards love dearly to do everything with deliberation; the summer had ended, and the winter had come and gone, before the events just narrated took place. Two or three days after the "San Nicolas" had sailed, it became generally known that Lieutenant Pedro Alvarez, the only surviving officer of the unfortunate "Saint Cecilia," had arrived at Cadiz.
"But his friends began to prate to him about the shameful way he had been jilted by Cecilia, and, by constantly reiterating the same thing, they at last succeeded in persuading him that he was an ill-used man. His self-esteem being roused by this silly chatter, he began to affect a ridiculous desolation, and to perpetrate all manner of outrageous extravagances."
The task took him long, for he stopped at intervals, overcome by the struggle of his heart, now melted into sympathy with the passionate eloquence of a son hitherto so free from amorous romance, and now sorrowing for the ruin of his own cherished hopes. This uneducated country girl would never be such a helpmate to a man like Kenelm as would have been Cecilia Travers.
While I was waiting for him, Marina came in with a dejected countenance, enquiring how she had deserved my contempt. "Cecilia has passed the night with you, Bellino will go with you to-morrow, I am the most unfortunate of us all." "Do you want money?" "No, for I love you." "But, Marinetta, you are too young." "I am much stronger than my sister." "Perhaps you have a lover." "Oh! no."
"Counterparts visiting them! You don't mean that anybody comes into the convent?" "Only in dreams." Cecilia tried to explain, but stumbled in her explanation so often that the Reverend Mother interrupted her: "Cecilia, you are talking nonsense! I have never heard anything like it before!" "But what I am telling you, Mother, is in the gospel Nicodemus " "Gospel of Nicodemus!"
And you, pure as you are of mind, and steadfast in principle, what would your chance be of happiness with a man who never erring till he knew you, could never look at you without regret, be his fondness what it might?" "Oh madam," cried the greatly shocked Cecilia, "let him, then, see me no more! take, take him all to yourself! forgive, console him!
Shrinking from the further pursuit of thoughts which might end in disposing her mind to distrust of her dying aunt, Emily looked round in search of some employment sufficiently interesting to absorb her attention. The writing-table reminded her that she owed a letter to Cecilia.
Nobody could look into the gentle, gray eyes of Cecilia Constable without feeling an instinctive trust in her, which was quickly, very quickly, to ripen into love. All those who knew her loved her, for she was made for love and self-sacrifice.
He can be here, if he starts early, in time for luncheon; and he can stay till Monday or Tuesday." "Who is to take his place at the school?" "Miss Ladd, to be sure if you make a point of it. Write to her, as well as to Mr. Morris." The letters being written and the order having been given to prepare a room for the expected guest Emily and Cecilia returned to the drawing-room.
"O fie! fie!" said Cecilia, "let me call her, I beg; you should consult with her in this distress, and seek comfort from her affection." "From her affection?" repeated he, fiercely, "from her hatred you mean! do you not know that she, too, is ruined? Oh past redemption ruined! and yet that I should hesitate, that I should a moment hesitate to conclude the whole business at once!"
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