Dolores and Carmen were alone in the garden. Hidden like two timid turtle doves, in an arbour of orange, lemon, and flowering pomegranate trees, and were eagerly conversing. Do?a María kept her room, through a slight indisposition—such, at least, was the excuse she made to the young ladies for not keeping them company in the garden, but, in reality, she had shut herself up to read an important letter which don Jaime had sent her by a safe man.
The girls, free from all surveillance, were rejoicing their hearts by confiding to each other their simple and sweet secrets; a few words had sufficed to render any explanation between them unnecessary; hence there were no concealments or subterfuges, but an entire and unbounded confidence, a tacitly concluded union to help each other, and compel their swains to break a too lengthened silence, and let them read in their hearts the name of her whom each of them preferred. It is on this serious and interesting subject that the conversation of the young ladies turned at this moment. Although they had confessed to each other their mutual love, by a feeling of delicacy inseparable from every real passion, they hesitated and recoiled with a blush before the thought of urging the young men to declare themselves.
Do?a Carmen and do?a Dolores were really simple and innocent girls, ignorant of all the coquettish tricks of which, among us, the so-called civilized people, women make such cruel, and, at times, implacable sport. By one of those strange accidents, which real life so frequently creates, the conversation of the young ladies was, with but a few slight differences, the same as the one that had previously taken place between the count and his friend on the same subject.
"Dolores," do?a Carmen said, in a caressing voice, "you are braver than I. You know don Ludovic better than I do; and, besides, he is your relation; why this reserve with him?"
"Alas! My darling," do?a Dolores replied, "this reserve which surprises you is forced upon me by my position. Count Ludovic is now my sole relation, as I am deserted by all the others; for many years past we have been betrothed to each other."
"How is it possible," the girl exclaimed, nobly, "that parents thus dare to enchain their children without consulting, and condemn them beforehand to a future of misery?"
"These arrangements are frequently made in Europe, dearest, I understand; moreover, does not our natural weakness render us women slaves of men, who have retained the supreme power in their hands? and although this intolerable tyranny makes us groan, we must humbly bow the head and obey."
"Yes, that is only too true; still, I fancy that if we were to resist—"
"We should be branded, pointed at, and ruin our reputation."
"Well, do you, in spite of your heart, conclude this odious marriage?"
"What shall I answer you, darling? The mere thought that this marriage might be accomplished renders me wild with grief, and yet I can see no way of escaping it: the count left France and came here with the sole object of marrying me; my father, on his dying bed, made him promise not to leave me without a protector, and to conclude this marriage. You see that there are several and very serious reasons why it seems to me impossible to escape from the fate that menaces me."
"But, my darling," do?a Carmen exclaimed, warmly, "why do you not have a clear explanation with the count? Perhaps this explanation would smooth all difficulties."
"That is possible; but this explanation cannot come from me; the count has rendered me immense services since my unfortunate father's death, and it would be giving him a very bad reward to answer by a refusal to a request which ought to honour me in every respect."
"Oh, you love him, Dolores!" she exclaimed, passionately.
"No, I do not love him," she answered, with dignity, "but perhaps he loves me; nothing proves the contrary."
"I am certain that it is I whom he loves!" Carmen exclaimed.
"My angel," she said, with a smile, "a woman can never be certain of such things, even when she holds the most solemn oaths, much less than when he has not a word, or a gesture, or a look to certify that she is not mistaken. I will go on then: one of two things is certain—the count either loves me, or does not love me, and supposes that I am in love with him; in either case my conduct is laid down for me. I must wait without provoking an explanation, which cannot fail to take place between us, and which, I feel convinced, will not be long delayed. In that case, Carmen, I swear to you to be to the count just what I ought to be, that is to say, frank and loyal; and if, after this explanation, any doubts remain in the count's mind, it will be because he was determined to retain them, and nothing will be left me but to bow my head sadly, and yield to my fate. That is all I can possibly promise you, my love; anything else I could not dare do, for my dignity as a woman, and the respect I owe myself, have traced for me a line of conduct which I believe my honour commands me not to stray from."
"My dear Dolores, though I am greatly grieved by your resolution, still I am forced to allow that it is the only one which, under present circumstances, it is proper for you to adopt; hence, do not feel vexed by my ill temper, for I am suffering so greatly."
"And I? Do you believe, darling, that I am happy? Oh! Undeceive yourself if you have that thought; perhaps I am even more unhappy than you."
At this moment footsteps were heard on the gravel walk.
"Here is somebody," said do?a Dolores.
"It is the count," Carmen at once replied.
"How do you know, dear?"
The girl blushed.
"I guess it by the beating of my heart," she said gently.
"He is alone, I think?"
"Yes."
"Oh, Heaven! Can anything new have happened?"
"Oh! Pray do not think that."
The count appeared at the entrance of the arbour. He was really alone. He bowed to the young ladies, and waited for their permission to join them. Do?a Dolores offered him her hand with a smile, while her companion bowed to hide her blushes.
"You are welcome, cousin," said do?a Dolores. "You arrive late today."
"I am pleased, cousin," he replied, "that you have noticed this involuntary delay. My friend, don Domingo, who was obliged to go this morning early two leagues from the city, intrusted me with a commission, which I was compelled to execute before I could have the felicity of paying my respects to you."
"A very fair excuse, cousin, and Carmen and I absolve you. Now, sit down between us and let us talk."
"With the greatest pleasure, cousin."
He entered the arbour, and sat down between the two young ladies.
"Permit me, do?a Carmen," he continued, as he bent down courteously to the young lady, "to offer you my respectful homage, and inquire after your health."
"I thank you for this attention, caballero," she answered. "Thank Heaven, my health is very good; but I should wish that my mother's were the same."
"Is do?a María ill?" he eagerly asked.
"I hope not; still she is so indisposed as to keep her room."
The count made a movement to rise.
"Perhaps, my presence might appear improper under the circumstances," he said, "and I will—"
"Not at all. Stay, caballero, you are no stranger to us. Your title of cousin, and betrothed of my dear Dolores," she said significantly, "sufficiently authorizes your presence."
"It is authorized much more, cousin, by the numerous services you have rendered us, and which give you a claim to our gratitude."
"Hence, whatever may happen, you and your friend don Domingo will always be welcome to us, caballero," do?a Carmen said with a smile.
"You overwhelm me, se?oritas."
"Shall we not have the pleasure of seeing your friend today?"
"Within an hour he will be here, se?orita. But you are rising: do you purpose leaving us, do?a Carmen?"
"I ask your permission to leave you for only a few minutes, caballero; do?a Dolores will keep you company, while I go and see whether my mother is better."
"Do so, se?orita; and be kind enough to inform her of the lively interest I feel in her, and my grief at finding her indisposed."
The young lady bowed and went away, light as a bird. The count and do?a Dolores remained alone. Their situation was singular and most embarrassing, for they thus unexpectedly found themselves in a position to have that explanation, from which they both hung back, while recognising its urgent necessity. If it is difficult for a woman to confess to a man who is wooing her that she does not love him, this confession is far more difficult, and painful, too, when it must come from the gentleman. Some minutes elapsed during which the two young people did not utter a word, and conte............