my chief surprise was that I had not foreseen this event in Moll's desire to return to Elche, or hit upon the truth in seeking an explanation of her disappearance. 'Twas of a piece with her natural romantic disposition and her newly awaked sense of poetic justice,—for here at one stroke she makes all human atonement for her fault and ours,—earning her husband's forgiveness by this proof of dearest love, and winning back for ever an honoured place in his remembrance. And I bethought me of our Lord's saying that greater love is there none than this: that one shall lay down his life for another.
For some time Dawson stood silent, his arms folded upon his breast, and his head bent in meditation, his lips pressed together, and every muscle in his face contracted with pain and labouring thought. Then, raising his head and fixing his eyes on the Don, he says:
"If I understand aright, my Moll hath gone to give herself up for a slave, in the place of her whose name she took."
The Don assents with a grave inclination of his head, and Dawson continues:
"I ask your pardon for that injustice I did you in my passion; but now that I am cool I cannot hold you blameless for what has befallen my poor child, and I call upon you as a man of honour to repair the wrong you've done me."
Again the Don bows very gravely, and then asks what we would have him do.
"I ask you," says Dawson, "as we have no means for such an expedition, to send me across the sea there to my Moll."
"I cannot ensure your return," says the Don, "and I warn you that once in Barbary you may never leave it."
"I do not want to return if she is there; nay," adds he,
