‘But how has he supported my absence?’
‘Oh, he suffered terribly.’
‘Did he give himself up to grief?’
‘At first he did—he was as one struck to the earth by a sudden, violent blow. Joaquin, however, roused him from his despondency, by urging the absolute necessity of pursuing the abductors. Thus urged, your father shook off his despondency, and appearing to forget his years, joined in the search for your abductors with all the ardor of youth. Indeed it became almost necessary forcibly to restrain him, lest he should become totally deranged.’
‘Totally deranged! Then his mind was affected by my loss?’
‘Oh, my love,’ ejaculated Monteagle, ‘Would that heaven had spared me that painful task; but pray be calm and bear the melancholy intelligence with fortitude and resignation.’
‘Speak on, speak on; I’m prepared for the worst,’ ejaculated our heroine— ‘Tell me of my poor father.’
‘When I left your home the physicians hoped he might recover, as at intervals reason seemed returning, when he would call for his daughter Inez, and then relapse into unconsciousness.’
‘Oh, let us hasten to my poor dear father.’
They were soon in their saddles, and on road to the Mission.