“I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love.”
“And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me in all.”
“Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have sins; and, oh! what a grievous sin they say it is to love you, who are a heretic! Holy Virgin, pardon me! but I could not help it.”
“If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you absolution.”
“Nay, Edward, don’t joke, but hear me. If Inez has confessed, they will look for me here, and we must not meet again—at least not in this place. You know the little bay behind the rock, it is not much farther off, and there is a cave where I can wait: another time it must be there.”
“It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the beach? will you not be afraid of the men in the boat, who must see you?”
“But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that I am in dread of, and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven! should my father know all, we should be lost—be separated for ever!” and Clara laid her forehead on Edward’s shoulder, as her tears fell fast.
“There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush! I heard a rustling in those orange-trees. Listen!”
“Yes! yes!” whispered Clara, hastily; “there is some one. Away! dear Edward, away!”
Clara sprang from his side, and hastened up the grove. Edward made his retreat, and flying down the rocky and narrow path through the underwood, was soon on the beach and into his boat. The Enterprise arrived at head quarters, and Edward reported himself to the admiral.