we are the chief, and we will remain so, and close our ears and hearts
against all heretics and their superstitions. What! A grandson of
Menas, the brother of two martyrs for our glorious faith, married to a
Melchite! The mere idea is sacrilege, is blasphemy; I can give it no
milder name! I and your father will die childless before we consent!
And it is for the love of this woman, whose heart is so cold that I
shiver only to think of it--for this waif and stray, who has nothing but
her ragged pride and the mere scrapings of a lost fortune, which never
could compare with ours--for this thankless creature, who can hardly
bring herself to bid me, your mother, such a civil good-morning--by
Heaven it is the truth--as I can say to a slave--for her that I, that
your parents are to be bereft of their son, the only child that a
gracious Providence has left to be their joy and comfort? No, no,
never! Far be it from me! You, Orion, my heart's darling, you have been
a wilful fellow all your life, but you cannot have such a perverse heart
as to bring your old mother, who has kept you in her heart these four and
twenty years, in sorrow to the grave and embitter your father's few
remaining days--for his hours are numbered!--And all for the sake of this
cold beauty, whom you have seen for a few hours these last two days. You
cannot have the heart to do this, my heart's treasure, no, you cannot!--
But if you should in some accursed hour, I tell you--and I have been a
tender mother to you all your life-but as surely as God shall be my stay
and your father's in our last hour, I will tear all love for you out of
my heart like a poisonous weed--I will, though that heart should break!"

Orion put his arms round the excited woman, who lead freed herself from
his embrace, laid his hand lightly on her lips and kissed her eyes,
whispering in her ear:

"I have not the heart indeed, and could scarcely find it." Then, taking