What
have I done?--I have been unfaithful to him--left him, to indulge a
worldly passion, sacrificed eternity for perishable mortality, and there
is a solemn voice within that tells me I am an outcast from all heavenly
joys. Bear with me, dear Henrique! I mean not to reproach you, but I
must condemn myself;--I feel that I shall not long remain here, but be
summoned before an offended Lord.
"Merciful Saviour!" cried she, falling on her knees, with imploring eyes
to heaven, "punish him not--pardon him his faults; for what are they,
compared to mine? he made no vows, he has committed no infidelity, he is
not the guilty one. Spare him, O Lord, and justly punish her who has
seduced him into crime!"
My heart smote me; I threw myself on the ground, and wept bitterly. I
felt that it had been my duplicity which had destroyed her virtuous
resolutions; my selfishness which had ruined her peace of mind and had
plunged her into guilt. She knelt by me, persuading me to rise, curbing
her own feelings as she kissed the tears from my cheeks, promising never
to wound my peace again. But it was gone--gone for ever; my crime burst
on me in all its magnitude; I felt that I had been guilty of a grievous
and unpardonable sin, and had ruined the one I loved as well as myself.
She was still on her knees; kneeling by her side, I prayed to offended
heaven for mercy and forgiveness. She joined me in my fervent
aspirations; and, with the tears of repentance flowing down our cheeks,
we remained some time in the attitude of supplication.
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