"Each look, each motion, waked a new-born grace,
That o'er her form its transient glory cast:
Some lovelier wonder soon usurp'd the place,
Chased by a charm still lovelier than the last."
Mason.
The day of the reception of Columbus at Barcelona, had been one of
tumultuous feelings and of sincere delight, with the ingenuous and
pure-minded Queen of Castile. She had been the moving spirit of the
enterprise, as it was connected with authority and means, and never was
a sovereign more amply rewarded, by a consciousness of the magnitude of
the results that followed her well-meant and zealous efforts.
When the excitement and bustle of the day were over, Isabella retired to
her closet, and there, as was usual with her on all great occasions, she
poured out her thankfulness on her knees, entreating the Divine
Providence to sustain her under the new responsibilities she felt, and
to direct her steps aright, equally as a sovereign and as a Christian
woman. She had left the attitude of prayer but a few minutes, and was
seated with her head leaning on her hand, in deep meditation, when a
slight knock at the door called her attention. There was but one person
in Spain who would be likely to take even this liberty, guarded and
modest as was the tap; rising, she turned the key and admitted the king.
Isabella was still beautiful. Her form, always of admirable perfection,
still retained its grace. Her eyes had lost but little of their lustre,
and her smile, ever sweet and beneficent, failed not to reflect the pure
and womanly impulses of her heart. In a word, her youthful beauty had
been but little impaired by the usual transition to the matronly
attractions of a wife and a mother; but this night, all her youthful
charms seemed to be suddenly renewed. Her cheek was flushed with holy
enthusiasm; her figure dilated with the sublimity of the thoughts in
which she had been indulging; and her eyes beamed with the ennobling
hopes of religious enthusiasm. Ferdinand was struck with this little
change, and he stood admiring her, for a minute, in silence, after he
had closed the door.
"Is not this a most wonderful reward, for efforts so small, my husband
and love?" exclaimed the queen, who fancied the king's thoughts similar
to her own; "a new empire thus cheaply purchased, with riches that the
imagination cannot tell, and millions of souls to be redeemed from
eternal woe, by means of a grace that must be as unexpected to
themselves, as the knowledge of their existence hath been to us!"
"Ever thinking, Isabella, of the welfare of souls! But thou art right;
for what are the pomps and glories of the world to the hopes of
salvation, and the delights of heaven! I confess Colon hath much
exceeded all my hopes, and raised such a future for Spain, that the mind
scarce knoweth where to place the limits to its pictures."
"Think of the millions of poor Indians that may live to bless our sway,
and to feel the influence and consolations of holy church!"
"I trust that our kinsman and neighbor, Dom Joao, will not give us
trouble in this matter. Your Portuguese have so keen an appetite for
discoveries, that they little relish the success of other powers; and,
it is said, many dangerous and wicked proposals were made to the king,
even while our caravels lay in the Tagus."
"Colon assureth me, Fernando, that he doubteth if these Indians have now
any religious creed, so that our ministers will have no prejudices to
encounter, in presenting to their simple minds the sublime truths of the
gospel!"
"No doubt the admiral hath fully weighed these matters. It is his
opinion, that the island he hath called Espanola wanteth but little of
being of the full dimensions of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Granada, and,
indeed, of all our possessions within the peninsula!"
"Didst thou attend to what he said, touching the gentleness and mildness
of the inhabitants? And wert thou not struck with the simple, confiding
aspects of those he hath brought with him? Such a people may readily be
brought, first, as is due, to worship the one true and living God, and
next, to regard their sovereigns as kind and benignant parents."
"Authority can ever make itself respected; and Don Christopher hath
assured me, in a private conference, that a thousand tried lances would
overrun all that eastern region. We must make early application to the
Holy Father to settle such limits between us and Don John, as may
prevent disputes, hereafter, touching our several interests. I have
already spoken to the cardinal on this subject, and he flattereth me
with the hope of having the ear of Alexander."
"I trust that the means of disseminating the faith of the cross will not
be overlooked in the negotiation; for it paineth me to find churchmen
treating of worldly things, to the utter neglect of those of their Great
Master."
Don Ferdinand regarded his wife intently for an instant, without making
any reply. He perceived, as often happened in questions of policy, that
their feelings were not exactly attuned, and he had recourse to an
allusion that seldom failed to draw the thoughts of Isabella from their
loftier aspirations to considerations more worldly, when rightly
applied.
"Thy children, Dona Isabella, will reap a goodly heritage by the success
of this, our latest and greatest stroke of policy! Thy dominions and
mine will henceforth descend in common to the same heir; then this
marriage in Portugal may open the way to new accessions of territory;
Granada is already secured to thine, by our united arms; and here hath
Providence opened the way to an empire in the east, that promiseth to
outdo all that hath yet been performed in Europe."
"Are not my children thine, Fernando? Can good happen to one, without
its equally befalling the other? I trust they will learn to understand
why so many new subjects and such wide territories are added to their
possessions, and will ever remain true to their highest and first duty,
that of spreading the gospel, that the sway of the one Catholic church
may the more speedily be accomplished."
"Still it may be necessary to secure advantages that are offered in a
worldly shape, by worldly means."
"Thou say'st true, my lord; and it is the proper care of loving parents
to look well to the interest of their offspring in this, as in all other
particulars."
Isabella now lent a more willing ear to the politic suggestions of her
consort, and they passed an hour in discussing some of the important
measures that it was thought their joint interests required should be
immediately attended to. After this, Ferdinand saluted his wife
affectionately, and withdrew to his own cabinet, to labor, as usual,
until his frame demanded rest.
Isabella sat musing for a few minutes after the king had retired, and
then she took a light and proceeded through certain private passages,
with which she was familiar, to the apartment of her daughters. Here she
spent an hour, indulging in the affections and discharging the duties of
a careful mother, when, embracing each in turn, she gave her blessings,
and left the place in the same simple manner as she had entered.
Instead, however, of returning to her own part of the palace, she
pursued her way in an opposite direction, until, reaching a private
door, she gently tapped. A voice within bade her enter, and complying,
the Queen of Castile found herself alone with her old and tried friend,
the Marchioness of Moya. A quiet gesture forbade all the usual
testimonials of respect, and knowing her mistress' wishes in this
particular, the hostess received her illustrious guest, much as she
would have received an intimate of her own rank in life.
"We have had so busy and joyful a day, Daughter-Marchioness," the queen
commenced, quietly setting down the little silver lamp she carried,
"that I had near forgotten a duty which ought not to be overlooked. Thy
nephew, the Count de Llera, hath returned to court, bearing himself as
modestly and as prudently, as if he had no share in the glory of this
great success of Colon's!"
"Senora, Luis is here, but whether prudent or modest, I leave for
others, who may be less partial, to say."
"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 gratitude, 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 Cipango.
These corridors are our trackless seas, and all these intricate
passages, 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 passed 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 passing 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 substitute 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 assumed 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 God! 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."
"This is most unusual! A creature so fair--so young--so noble--so
rich--every way so excellent, to be so soon forgotten! Canst thou
account for it by any wandering inclination, Lady of Moya?"
Isabella spoke musingly, and, as one of her high rank is apt to overlook
minor considerations, when the feelings are strongly excited, she did
not remember that Mercedes was a listener. The convulsive shudder that
again shook the frame of our heroine, however, did not fail to remind
her of this fact, and the queen could not have pressed the Princess
Juana more fondly to her heart, than she now drew the yielding form of
our heroine.
"What would you, Senora?" returned the marchioness, bitterly. "Luis,
thoughtless and unprincipled boy as he is, hath induced a youthful
Indian princess to abandon home and friends, under the pretence of
swelling the triumph of the admiral, but really, in obedience to a
wandering fancy, and in submission to those evil caprices, that make men
what, in sooth, they are, and which so often render unhappy women their
dupes and their victims."
"An Indian princess, say'st thou? The admiral made one of that rank
known to us, but she was already a wife, and far from being one to rival
Dona Mercedes of Valverde."
"Ah! dearest Senora, she of whom you speak will not compare with her I
mean--Ozema--for so is the Indian lady called--Ozema is a different
being, and is not without high claims to personal beauty. Could mere
personal appearances justify the conduct of the boy, he would not be
altogether without excuse."
"How know'st thou this, Beatriz?"
"Because, your Highness, Luis hath brought her to the palace, and she
is, at this moment, in these very apartments. Mercedes hath received her
like a sister, even while the stranger hath unconsciously crashed her
heart."
"_Here_, say'st thou, Marchioness? Then can there be no vicious union
between the thoughtless young man and the stranger. Thy nephew would not
thus presume to offend virtue and innocence."
"Of that we complain not, Senora. 'Tis the boyish inconstancy and
thoughtless cruelty of the count, that hath awakened my feelings against
him. Never have I endeavored to influence my ward to favor his suit, for
I would not that they should have it in their power to say I sought a
union so honorable and advantageous to our house; but now do I most
earnestly desire her to steel her noble heart to his unworthiness."
"Ah! Senora--my guardian," murmured Mercedes, "Luis is not so _very_
culpable. Ozema's beauty, and my own want of the means to keep him true,
are alone to blame."
"Ozema's beauty!" slowly repeated the queen. "Is this young Indian,
then, so very perfect, Beatriz, that thy ward need fear or envy her? I
did not think that such a being lived!"
"Your Highness knoweth how it is with men. They love novelties, and are
most captivated with the freshest faces. San Iago!--Andres de Cabrera
hath caused me to know this, though it were a crime to suppose any could
teach this hard lesson to Isabella of Trastamara."
"Restrain thy strong and impetuous feelings, Daughter-Marchioness,"
returned the queen, glancing her eye at the bowed form of Mercedes,
whose head was now buried in her lap; "truth seldom asserts its fullest
power when the heart is overflowing with feeling. Don Andres hath been a
loyal subject, and doth justice to thy merit; and, as to my lord the
king, he is the father of my children, as well as thy sovereign. But,
touching this Ozema--can I see her, Beatriz?"
"You have only to command, Senora, to see whom you please. But Ozema is,
no doubt, at hand, and can be brought into your presence as soon as it
may please your Highness to order it done."
"Nay, Beatriz, if she be a princess, and a stranger in the kingdom,
there is a consideration due to her rank and to her position. Let Dona
Mercedes go and prepare her to receive us; I will visit her in her own
apartment. The hour is late, but she will overlook the want of ceremony
in the desire to do her service."
Mercedes did not wait a second bidding, but, rising from her knees, she
hastened to do as the queen had suggested. Isabella and the marchioness
were silent some little time, when left to themselves; then the former,
as became her rank, opened the discourse.
"It is remarkable, Beatriz, that Colon should not have spoken to me of
this princess!" she said. "One of her condition ought not to have
entered Spain with so little ceremony."
"The admiral hath deemed her the chosen subject of Luis' care, and hath
left her to be presented to your Highness by my recreant nephew. Ah,
Senora! is it not wonderful, that one like Mercedes could be so soon
supplanted by a half-naked, unbaptized, benighted being, on whom the
church hath never yet smiled, and whose very soul may be said to be in
jeopardy of instantaneous condemnation?"
"That soul must be cared for, Beatriz, and that right quickly. Is the
princess really of sufficient beauty to supplant a creature as lovely as
the Dona Mercedes?"
"It is not that, Senora--it is not that. But men are fickle--and they so
love novelties! Then is the modest restraint of cultivated manners less
winning to them, than the freedom of those who deem even clothes
superfluous. I mean not to question the modesty of Ozema; for, according
to her habits, she seemeth irreproachable in this respect; but the
ill-regulated fancy of a thoughtless boy may find a momentary attraction
in her unfettered conduct and half-attired person, that is wanting to
the air and manners of a high-born Spanish damsel, who hath been taught
rigidly to respect herself and her sex."
"This may be true, as toucheth the vulgar, Beatriz, but such unworthy
motives can never influence the Conde de Llera. If thy nephew hath
really proved the recreant thou supposest, this Indian princess must be
of more excellence than we have thought."
"Of that, Senora, you can soon judge for yourself; here is the maiden of
Mercedes to inform us that the Indian is ready to receive the honor that
your Highness intendeth."
Our heroine had prepared Ozema to meet the queen. By this time, the
young Haytian had caught so many Spanish words, that verbal
communication with her was far from difficult, though she still spoke in
the disconnected and abrupt manner of one to whom the language was new.
She understood perfectly that she was to meet that beloved sovereign, of
whom Luis and Mercedes had so often spoken with reverence; and
accustomed, herself, to look up to caciques greater than her brother,
there was no difficulty in making her understand that the person she was
now about to receive was the first of her sex in Spain. The only
misconception which existed, arose from the circumstance that Ozema
believed Isabella to be the queen of all the Christian world, instead of
being the queen of a particular country; for, in her imagination, both
Luis and Mercedes were persons of royal station.
Although Isabella was prepared to see a being of surprising perfection
of form, she started with surprise, as her eye first fell on Ozema. It
was not so much the beauty of the young Indian that astonished her, as
the native grace of her movements, the bright and happy expression of
her countenance, and the perfect self-possession of her mien and
deportment. Ozema had got accustomed to a degree of dress that she would
have found oppressive at Hayti; the sensitiveness of Mercedes, on the
subject of female propriety, having induced her to lavish on her new
friend many rich articles of attire, that singularly, though wildly,
contributed to aid her charms. Still the gift of Luis was thrown over
one shoulder, as the highest-prized part of her wardrobe, and the cross
of Mercedes rested on her bosom, the most precious of all her ornaments.
"This is wonderful, Beatriz!" exclaimed the queen, as she stood at one
side of the room, while Ozema bowed her body in graceful reverence on
the other; "can this rare being really have a soul that knoweth naught
of its God and Redeemer! But let her spirit be benighted as it may,
there is no vice in that simple mind, or deceit in that pure heart."
"Senora, all this is true. Spite of our causes of dissatisfaction, my
ward and I both love her already, and could take her to our hearts
forever; one as a friend, and the other as a parent."
"Princess," said the queen, advancing with quiet dignity to the spot
where Ozema stood, with downcast eyes and bended body, waiting her
pleasure, "thou art welcome to our dominions. The admiral hath done well
in not classing one of thy evident claims and station among those whom
he hath exhibited to vulgar eyes. In this he hath shown his customary
judgment, no less than his deep respect for the sacred office of
sovereigns."
"Almirante!" exclaimed Ozema, her looks brightening with intelligence,
for she had long known how to pronounce the well-earned title of
Columbus; "Almirante, Mercedes--Isabella, Mercedes--Luis, Mercedes,
Senora Reyna."
"Beatriz, what meaneth this? Why doth the princess couple the name of
thy ward with that of Colon, with mine, and even with that of the young
Count of Llera?"
"Senora, by some strange delusion, she hath got to think that Mercedes
is the Spanish term for every thing that is excellent or perfect, and
thus doth she couple it with all that she most desireth to praise. Your
Highness must observe that she even united Luis and Mercedes, a union
that we once fondly hoped might happen, but which now would seem to be
impossible; and which she herself must be the last really to wish."
"Strange delusion!" repeated the queen; "the idea hath had its birth in
some particular cause, for things like this come not of accidents; who
but thy nephew, Beatriz, would know aught of thy ward, or who but he
would have taught the princess to deem her very name a sign of
excellence?"
"Senora!" exclaimed Mercedes, the color mounting to her pale cheek, and
joy momentarily flashing in her eyes, "can this be so?"
"Why not, daughter? We may have been too hasty in this matter, and
mistaken what are truly signs of devotion to thee, for proofs of
fickleness and inconstancy."
"Ah! Senora! but this can never be, else would not Ozema so love him."
"How know'st thou, child, that the princess hath any other feeling for
the count than that which properly belongeth to one who is grateful for
his care, and for the inexpressible service of being made acquainted
with the virtues of the cross? Here is some rash error, Beatriz."
"I fear not, your Highness. Touching the nature of Ozema's feelings,
there can be no misconception, since the innocent and unpractised
creature hath not art sufficient to conceal them. That her heart is all
Luis', we discovered in the first few hours of our intercourse; and it
is too pure, unsought, to be won. The feeling of the Indian is not
merely admiration, but it is such a passionate devotion, as partaketh of
the warmth of that sun, which, we are told, glows with a heat so genial
in her native clime."
"_Could_ one see so much of Don Luis, Senora," added Mercedes, "under
circumstances to try his martial virtues, and so long daily be in
communion with his excellent heart, and not come to view him as far
above all others?"
"Martial virtues--excellent heart!"--slowly repeated the queen, "and yet
so regardless of the wrong he doeth! He is neither knight nor cavalier
worthy of the sex, if what thou thinkest be true, child."
"Nay, Senora," earnestly resumed the girl, whose diffidence was yielding
to the wish to vindicate our hero, "the princess hath told us of the
manner in which he rescued her from her greatest enemy and persecutor,
Caonabo, a headstrong and tyrannical sovereign of her island, and of his
generous self-devotion in her behalf."
"Daughter, do thou withdraw, and, first calling on Holy Maria to
intercede for thee, seek the calm of religious peace and submission, on
thy pillow. Beatriz, I will question the princess alone."
The marchioness and Mercedes immediately withdrew, leaving Isabella with
Ozema, in possession of the room. The interview that followed lasted
more than an hour, that time being necessary to enable the queen to form
an opinion of the stranger's explanations, with the imperfect means of
communication she possessed. That Ozema's whole heart was Luis',
Isabella could not doubt. Unaccustomed to conceal her preferences, the
Indian girl was too unpractised to succeed in such a design, had she
even felt the desire to attempt it; but, in addition to her native
ingenuousness, Ozema believed that duty required her to have no
concealments from the sovereign of Luis, and she laid bare her whole
soul in the simplest and least disguised manner.
"Princess," said the queen, after the conversation had lasted some time,
and Isabella believed herself to be in possession of the means of
comprehending her companion, "I now understand your tale. Caonabo is the
chief, or, if thou wilt, the king of a country adjoining thine own; he
sought thee for a wife, but being already married to more than one
princess, thou didst very properly reject his unholy proposals. He then
attempted to seize thee by violence. The Conde de Llera was on a visit
to thy brother at the time"--
"Luis--Luis"--the girl impatiently interrupted, in her sweet, soft
voice--"Luis no Conde--Luis."
"True, princess, but the Conde de Llera and Luis de Bobadilla are one
and the same person. Luis, then, if thou wilt, was present in thy
palace, and he beat back the presumptuous cacique, who, not satisfied
with fulfilling the law of God by the possession of one wife, impiously
sought, in thy person, a second, or a third, and brought thee off in
triumph. Thy brother, next, requested thee to take shelter, for a time,
in Spain, and Don Luis, becoming thy guardian and protector, hath
brought thee hither to the care of his aunt?"
Ozema bowed her head in acknowledgment of the truth of this statement,
most of which she had no difficulty in understanding, the subject
having, of late, occupied so much of her thoughts.
"And, now, princess," continued Isabella, "I must speak to thee with
maternal frankness, for I deem all of thy birth my children while they
dwell in my realms, and have a right to look to me for advice and
protection. Hast thou any such love for Don Luis as would induce thee to
forget thine own country, and to adopt his in its stead?"
"Ozema don't know what 'adopt his,' means," observed the puzzled girl.
"I wish to inquire if thou wouldst consent to become the wife of Don
Luis de Bobadilla?"
"Wife" and "husband" were words of which the Indian girl had early
learned the signification, and she smiled guilelessly, even while she
blushed, and nodded her assent.
"I am, then, to understand that thou expectest to marry the count, for
no modest young female like, thee, would so cheerfully avow her
preference, without having that hope ripened in her heart, to something
like a certainty."
"Si, Senora--Ozema, Luis' wife."
"Thou meanest, princess, that Ozema expecteth shortly to wed the
count--shortly to become his wife!"
"No--no--no--Ozema _now_ Luis' wife. Luis marry Ozema, already."
"Can this be so?" exclaimed the queen, looking steadily into the face of
the beautiful Indian to ascertain if the whole were not an artful
deception. But the open and innocent face betrayed no guilt, and
Isabella felt compelled to believe what she had heard. In order,
however, to make certain of the fact, she questioned and
cross-questioned Ozema, for near half an hour longer, and always with
the same result.
When the queen arose to withdraw, she kissed the princess, for so she
deemed this wild creature of an unknown and novel state of society, and
whispered a devout prayer for the enlightenment of her mind, and for her
future peace. On reaching her own apartment, she found the Marchioness
of Moya in attendance, that tried friend being unable to sleep until she
had learned the impressions of her royal mistress.
"'Tis even worse than we had imagined, Beatriz," said Isabella, as the
other closed the door behind her. "Thine heartless, inconstant nephew
hath already wedded the Indian, and she is, at this moment, his lawful
wife."
"Senora, there must be some mistake in this! The rash boy would hardly
dare to practise this imposition on me, and that in the very presence of
Mercedes."
"He would sooner place his wife in thy care, Daughter-Marchioness, than
make the same disposition of one who had fewer claims on him. But there
can be no mistake. I have questioned the princess closely, and no doubt
remaineth in my mind, that the nuptials have been solemnized by
religious rites. It is not easy to understand all she would wish to say,
but that much she often and distinctly hath affirmed."
"Your Highness--can a Christian contract marriage with one that is yet
unbaptized?"
"Certainly not, in the eye of the church, which is the eye of God. But I
rather think Ozema hath received this holy rite, for she often pointed
to the cross she weareth, when speaking of the union with thy nephew.
Indeed, from her allusions, I understood her to say that she became a
Christian, ere she became a wife."
"And that blessed cross, Senora, was a gift of Mercedes to the reckless,
fickle-minded boy; a parting gift in which the holy symbol was intended
to remind him of constancy and faith!"
"The world maketh so many inroads into the hearts of men, Beatriz, that
they know not woman's reliance and woman's fidelity. But to thy knees,
and bethink thee of asking for grace to sustain thy ward, in this cruel,
but unavoidable extremity."
Isabella now turned to her friend, who advanced and raised the hand of
her royal mistress to her lips. The queen, however, was not content with
this salutation, warm as it was; passing an arm around the neck of Dona
Beatriz, she drew her to her person, and imprinted a kiss on her
forehead.
"Adieu, Beatriz--true friend as thou art!" she said. "If constancy hath
deserted all others, it hath still an abode in thy faithful heart."
With these words the queen and the marchioness separated, each to find
her pillow, if not her repose.