went off, and almost shattered two fingers of my left hand, while the blood bespattered Adela's face.
Instead of fainting which I expected, she rather grew more collected, and with anxious solicitude stopped the blood with her handkerchief. Having persuaded me to return with her to the castle to have the wounds properly dressed, she embraced me as I rose and with tears in her eyes, asked me, "do you feel much pain, Carlos?"
—"Very little in my hand," answered I.
—"What, are you wounded in some other part?"
—"Here, Adela, here I feel excruciating pangs," returned I pointing to my heart.
"—What can it be? Tell it your sister!" pursued she, seizing my hand.
I now described all the feelings of my soul, and this avowal made Adela thus declare herself, "I never thought there could be much difference in my being your sister or your wife. If the quality of a wife attaches to itself a more exclusive right to your love———-
