My father, though he received me with his usual tenderness, was less attentive to my appearance, since, far from considering my marriage, it was on the occasion of his own being celebrated with an Emir's daughter that I had been summoned to his presence. He therefore easily consented to my returning to nurse Olinda, and loaded me with blessings and pre

sents.

"His kindness pressed heavily on my heart, when I remembered my intention of quitting him; and I returned to the country dejected and irresolute. I could not but think that all religions were defective, since they rendered our duties and the tenderest desires of our nature incompatible. If I were to inform my father of the ties my affection had contracted, my child and myself must die, because my lover was a Christian; and the creed of Velasquez taught me that my father was everlastingly condemned to flames and torture, for his belief in Mahomet. Such were my doubtings; but love and friendship soon chased them from my mind. During my absence Velasquez had been at Algiers, endeavouring to procure our removal; but fearing to betray us, he had merely engaged his own passage to Spain, resolving, if it met with our consent, to pass over to that country; there fitting out a vessel of his own, to return and fetch us, which might be effected in a very short space of time, and with less risk than hiring a Moorish ship. To this plan, however reluctant we might be to parting, we at last consented; but owing to unlooked-for delays,

many months elapsed before the ship sailed; so that my little one was born before his father left us. Olinda had contrived that the infant should be deposited in a basket and left in the garden of our house, where it was soon after discovered by our attendants. Osmar, the chief of our slaves, was for exposing the baby by the sea-side; but this we over-ruled; and despatching him to my father with intelligence of the occurrence, made it our request, that the child should be our charge and educated in his house. My father, who readily believed that some peasant, overstocked with a family, had chosen this method of disposing of one of them, and understanding that it was a fine healthy boy, gave directions it might be delivered to our care, and a nurse provided, wondering only what pleasure we could possibly derive from such an undertaking. Our plan thus happily succeeding, 1. was only disappointed that Velasquez seemed not equally joyful, but on the contrary appeared restless and dissatisfied. In vain I sought by every touching demonstration of love, by every tender attention, by fresh acquirements, to charm him more and more-nothing could delight him; until, after one of his evening solitary rambles, he informed us, with eager transport, that the vessel would sail that night. His manner shocked me; a melancholy foreboding came over me, that his love was extinct, and that we parted for ever.

"I burst into tears, but his soothings and assurances of a speedy return soon calmed me, and I reproached myself bitterly for my want of confidence. We had

but little money for this occasion, but my jewels were of immense value; and these I gave to my lover to be turned into specie, on his arrival in Spain, for he feared that his friends might not be willing to assist him should they know his scheme.

"We parted, with genuine sorrow on my side, but, alas! I have reason to think, with an intention on his never to return.

"The care of my child, and attendance upon Olinda, whose health visibly declined, engaged however my attention, and hope was supported by the remembrance of his solemn promises; but month after month wore away, and no tidings.

"We spent some time at Algiers, and during that period, I dreaded lest he might return and find us absent. We had provided against such an accident, that he should leave a note written in Spanish among the roses of the Peri's grot: thither my eager, first directed steps were bent on our return to the country-but in vain-no note, no indication that any one had entered since our departure. Fragments of decayed leaves and flowers lay unswept beneath the rich clusters of fresh roses. The water pursued its gentle course, and shed its usual coolness.

66 My heart was well nigh overcome; but I remembered that many difficulties might have prevented him, and sought the society of my son as a comfort for my disappointment.

"A twelvemonth wore away, and no tidings of Velasquez: to add to my sorrows, Olinda grew worse

and worse; her uneasiness on my account, and her doubts of her brother's honour, were too much for a frame so delicate as hers. All the difficulties of my situation preyed upon her mind; my want of a friend and adviser at her death; my probable separation from my child in the event of my father's giving me in marriage. I was obliged to turn comforter, and speak of hopes I did not entertain. Death at last deprived me of this best and only friend; my grief was unbounded; and my father fearing for my health, ordered my removal to Algiers. He sought to dissipate the gloom which hung over me by a participation in those pleasures which women in our country seldom enjoy. But after a time, anxious to return to a spot which contained my child, and where the only probability existed of my ever hearing from Velasquez, I begged leave to return and indulge my friendship for Olinda, by erecting an urn to her memory near the Peri's grot. My request was granted, and my father promised to spend part of the summer with me. In vain I searched for some token of my lover's return. Cruel reality!-he had ceased to remember Zulema: nearly two years had elapsed, and hope delayed maketh the heart sick.' My greatest pleasure was in watching the progress of my boy, who was healthful and joyous; or at the close of evening wandering around the scene of my former happiness, where the images of my inconstant lover and deceased friend seemed again to float before me, rendering me at once both more happy and more wretched.

"One evening, overcome with these melancholy recollections, I stayed later than usual, absorbed in a listless feeling of apathy and despair, when the figure of a man stood dark between me and the pale horizon. Yielding to the emotions I have described, I did not stir, until I heard my own name breathed in a voice that sent all the blood chilly to my heart.

"I started on my feet, and in another moment was enfolded in the arms of Velasquez. How easy is it for a lover to make his peace with a mistress, more eager to find excuses than faults! My love had received a shock, by the slow but sure conviction of his ingratitude and coldness; for strong passion cannot perhaps exist where the object proves to be baseminded or ungenerous: more flagrant vices may be overlooked or excused; but the heart revolts from treachery and meanness. Yet, now that I heard him lament a train of misfortunes which had prevented his sooner coming to my succour, I listened with fond credulity, and blamed my own weakness, which had sunk under threatened difficulties. In few words, he informed me that he had met with some of his brave comrades whom he had supposed to have perished,— that, at length, they had succeeded in bringing their ship to that part of the coast which I inhabited, and that if I was prepared, that very night should convey me for ever from my country and my fears.

"The sound of approaching footsteps and voices allowed me but time to fix the following night for our escape; and charging him to keep close, I went out to