listen, for she could scarcely catch it;—yes, there certainty was the sound of voices, confused and distant; then all was still again. A few minutes of agonising suspense succeeded; then came the tread of heavy feet along the gallery. She heard a loud, harsh voice distinct above the others, though, of course, she could not distinguish the words. The door of the chamber opened, and some one entered slowly, and approached the table. She felt, though her face was bowed upon her hand, that the darkness of his shadow was upon her.
The visitor paused; then, shaking her roughly by the arm, exclaimed, "Up, thoughtless sleeper! there is but brief space between thee and eternity: give that space to thy God! Great as are the injuries now about to be requited on thy own head, I would not have thee depart this life with no prayer on thy lips for forgiveness." He drew aside the cloak, and all concealment was over. The young Italian rose from the seat, pale, but resolved; and if her hands were involuntarily clasped in the timid supplication belonging to her sex, her dark eyes were filled with the fiery pride native to her heroic race. The surprise was so great, that for a moment Major Johnstone neither spoke nor moved, but remained gazing on the
