I had a very different matter on which to speak to him this morning," said he, with a sad smile: "but better as it is.

He shall find me, I hope, reasonable and trustworthy in this matter; perhaps enough so to have my Valencia committed to me.

Precious jewel! I must learn to be a man now, at least; now that I have you to care for." "And yet you go and leave me ?" "Valencia! Because God has given us to each other, shall our thank-offering be to shrink cowardly from His work ?" He spoke more sternly than he intended, to awe into obedience rather himself than her; for he felt, poor fellow, his courage failing fast, while he held that treasure in his arms.
She shuddered in silence.
"Forgive me!" he cried; "I was too harsh, Valencia!" "No!" she cried, looking up at him with a glorious smile.

"Scold me! Be harsh to me! It is so delicious now to be reproved by you!" and as she spoke she felt as if she would rather endure torture from that man's hand than bliss from any other.

How many strange words of Lucia's that new feeling explained to her; words at which she had once grown angry, as doting weaknesses, unjust and degrading to self-respect.