this way, and that nobleness derived from women does not matter in illustrious descents; so much less, as true nobleness consists in virtue, and if you are deficient of that in denying me what you so rightly owe me, I shall remain with more advantages of nobleness than you have. Finally, sir, the last I tell you, though witnesses are your words, which not must be lies, if you appreciate yourself for that wherefore you depreciate me: witness is the sign-manual you have made, and witness is Heaven whom you called to witness of what you promised me; and if all this is deficient, your own conscience will not fail to utter cries in the midst of your pleasures repeating the truth I have told you, and disturbing your best enjoyments and gratification.

The doleful Dorothea said these and other words with such feeling and so much tears that even those who accompanied Don Fernando, and all who were present, were crying. Don Fernando listened without answering a word, till she had put an end to hers, beginning such sighs and sobs that he who would not be moved to compassion must have a heart of bronze. Lucinda looked at her, not less afflicted by her grief than admiring her great discretion and beauty, and although she wished to approach her and tell her some words of consolation, the arms of Don Fernando which held her compressed did not permit to her to do so; who, full of confusion and fright, after a long time, while he was looking at Dorothea, opened the arms and setting Lucinda free, said: "You have conquered, beautiful Dorothea, you have conquered, because it is not possible to have courage to deny so many truthful reasons united." Lucinda was to fall to the ground in the swoon she had had as Don Fernando released her, but Cardenio, standing close by, who had placed him

self behind the shoulders of Don Fernando, in order not to be perceived by him, postponing all fear, and risking every donger, hastened to support Lucinda, and, clasping her in his arms, said to her: "If pious Heaven will that you find some rest, my loyal, constant and beautiful mistress, I believe that you will nowhere find it surer than in these aras, which receive you presently, and received you another time, when fortune wished that I should call you mine." Lucinda, at these words, cast her eyes on Cardenio, and recognizing him first by the voice, and assuring herself by his face that he it was, she threw, as if out of her senses, and careless of any honest respect, her arms around his neck, and joining her face to that of Cardenio, said to him: "Yes, my lord, you are the true owner of this, your captive, although the contrary fate even so much hinders it, and though they ever so much threaten this life, which is sustained by yours." This was a strange speech for Don Fernando, and all who were present, astonished by such an event, never seen before. It appeared to Dorothea that Don Fernando had changed color, and that he offered to wreak his vengeance on Cardenio, because she saw him putting the hand to the hilt of his sword, and as fast as she thought it she embraced with unnoticed quietness his knees, kissing them, and holding him compressed as if she would not let him move, and, withont stopping her tears a moment, she said: "What are you going to do, my only refuge in this unexpected. dangerous moment? You hold your wife at your feet, and she whom you want to be yours, is in the arms of her husband; think if you are right, or if it is possible to undo what Heaven has done, or if it will suit you to attempt to make equal with you her who, neglecting all inconvenience, confirmed in her truth and

constancy, shows, in your sight, her eyes bedewing the face and bosom of her real husband with tears of love. For God's and your own sake, I beseech and implore you that this manifest declaration of their love not only may not increase your anger, but extinguish it in a manner, that you in tranquility permit these two lovers to keep their affection without your hindrance, as long as Heaven will grant it to them, and hereby you will show the generosity of your illustrious and noble heart, and the world will see that reason has more strength with you than passion."

While Dorothea was saying this, Carden io, althongh holding Lucinda embraced, did not forsake the eyes of Don Fernando, resolved, if he should see him making a movement for his injury, to prepare as well as he could for defense ond offense against all who should show themselves intent to his damage, although it would cost his life; but in this moment the friends of Don Fernando, and the parish-priest- and the barber, who had been present during all what happened, approached, besides that good Sancho Panza was not missing: and all surrounded Don Fernando, beseeching him to look graciously to the tears of Dorothea, and as what she had told in her address was truth, not to concede that she was defrauded in her justest hopes, that he should consider that they all, not by chance, as it seemed, but by a special Peovidence of Heaven had joined in a place where nobody could expect it; and, said the priest, that he should perceive that only death could separate Lucinda from Cardenio, and, although the edge of a sword divided them, they would consider their death the happiest event, and that, in irremediable cases, it was the highest prudence to show a generous heart by forcing and conquering himself, allowing that the two

only by his will, enjoyed the boon Heaven had already conceded to them; that he should put his eyes also on the beauty of Dorothea, and he would see that few or none could equal her, much less surpass her, and that she joined to her beauty her humility and the utmost love for him; and above all things he should note that, if he boasted to be a cavalier and a Christian, he could not do otherwise than to keep the word that he had given her, and that by keeping it he would be just toward God, and would satisfy discreet people who know that it is the prerogative of beauty, although it be the quality of a humble subject, if it is accompanied by honesty, to be elevated to every hight, without any mark of diminution of him who elevates and raises her to his own condition; and if the powerful laws of pleasure are executed so far as no sin does intervenehe who obeys them must not be blamed. In fact, they added to these reasons many others, and in such a way that the strong mind of Don Fernando, after all nourished by illustrious blood, grew mild and yielded to be vanquished by the truth, which he could not gainsay, though he wished to do so, and the sign he gave of having surrendered, and delivered himself to the good opinion which was proposed to him, was that he bent and embraced Dorothea, saying: "Stand up, my dear lady, for it is not right that she whom I keep in my soul is kneeling at my feet; and if I till now, have not given proofs of what I say, it chanced, perhaps, by order of Heaven, in order that perceiving in you the faithfulness with which you love me, I might know how to esteem you as much as you deserve; I only request you not to blame my bad manner and my great carelessness, because the same cause and force which moved me to accept you as mine, urged me to endeavor

not to be yours; and in order to persuade you that this is the truth, turn and see the eyes of the presently satisfied Lucinda, and you will find in them the excuse of all my errors; and since she found and obtained what she desired, and I have found in you, what satisfies me: may she live safe and content many and happy years with her. Cardenio, for I shall, on my knees, implore Heaven that he may grant to me such years with my Dorothea."*A

And saying this he again embraced her, and joined his face to hers with such tender feelings that he must be very careful lest his eyes gave a doubtless testimonial of his love and repentance. Lucinda and Cardenio, and almost all who were present, did not so, because they shed so many tears, either from their own content, or for that of the others, that it seemed no otherwise than as if a grave misfortune had befallen to all. The admiration, joined to the flood of tears, lasted for some time, and then Cardenio and Lucinda came to bend their knees before D. Fernando, giving him thanks, for the favor bestowed on them, in so courteous expressions that Don Fernando did not know what to answer them: and so he raised them up and embraced them with marks of much love and courtesy.

A SELECTION FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER OF OF ED. BELLAMY'S ́ CELEBRATED WORK; "LOOKING BACKWARD." "It was thought one of the most grievous features of our civilization (in 1889) that we required so much toil from women, "I said, "but it seems to me you get more out of them than we did."

Dr. Leete laughed. "Indeed we do, just as We do out of our men. Yet the women of this age (1989) are