“Eureka is not unmindful of your kind feelings towards her;” observed the other in a more tremulous voice than he had hitherto used. “It is her desire to deserve your affections, that has supported her under many trials. Her father is proud, but not so proud as Eureka. Yet there is an impassable gulf between the pride of the two. He would sacrifice every one around him for the immediate gratification of his own self-love: she would sacrifice all selfish considerations that interfered with the happiness of one she loved.”
“And think you I cannot honour such goodness in the manner it deserves?” asked the merchant’s son. “Let him be what he will—let his pride be as mean, and his ambition as selfish as it may, for the sake of Eureka I will endeavour to forget his unworthiness. All I hope is, that he will not attempt to force her inclinations to an alliance more pleasing to him.”
“He cannot force her inclinations—that he knows;” remarked Zabra. “He has made the attempt for the first and last time; and Eureka is now beyond his reach.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed Oriel with astonishment.
“Ay!” he replied. “He thought the more completely to secure your separation from her, to hurry her into a marriage with the wealthy and powerful head of the princely house of Vermont; but the character of such a man, had no other obstacle existed, would have been sufficient to have produced in her feelings a repugnance which nothing could overpower. As it was, she indignantly refused to become a sacrifice to her father’s ambition. Her sentiments, however, on the subject, were so little regarded by him, that he made preparations to compel her to the union.”
“Ha!” exclaimed master Porphyry, “I could not have imagined such despotism in a parent.”
“Closely as she was watched,” he continued, “Eureka managed to escape from her confinement; and when she sent me to be the companion of your fortunes, she had secured for herself the asylum she required.”
“But where is she? Let me hasten to afford her the protection of which she must be so much in want!” exclaimed the impetuous Oriel; then reproachfully added, “Why, why did you not tell me this before?”
“I have obeyed my instructions;” replied the youth calmly. “It is sufficient for you to know that now she is safe, and that she is in the enjoyment of as much happiness as it is possible for her to obtain under the circumstances. Her retreat can only be made known to you when all the purposes of the present voyage are completed, and you return to Columbus.”