"No, I no longer have; it is long since it was tortured and broken by despair."
For a moment the maiden was overcome.
"Pity, señora!" she cried, in a piercing tone; "oh, you have said you had a heart once! You have loved! In the name of him you loved, have pity—pity for me."
"No, no pity, none was felt for me!" and she pushed her away.
"Señora! in the name of one you have loved, pity."
"I love nothing now but vengeance!" she cried; "it is good to hate; a woman forgets her insults through it."
Doña Rosario did not hear these frightful words; a prey to despair, she continued to weep and supplicate; but the word child struck her ear; a light flashed across her brain.
"Oh, señora!" she cried, "I knew you were good, and that I should succeed in softening you!"
"What does this folly mean?" said the Linda.
"Señora!" Rosario implored, "you have had children! you have loved them! oh, loved them dearly!"