By one of these passages, Hussein Baba had
undertaken to conduct the princesses to a sally-port beyond the
walls of the city, where the cavaliers were to be ready with fleet
steeds, to bear the whole party over the borders.
The appointed night arrived: the tower of the princesses had been
locked up as usual, and the Alhambra was buried in deep sleep. Towards
midnight, the discreet Kadiga listened from the balcony of a window
that looked into the garden. Hussein Baba, the renegado, was already
below, and gave the appointed signal. The duenna fastened the end of a
ladder of ropes to the balcony, lowered it into the garden and
descended. The two eldest princesses followed her with beating hearts;
but when it came to the turn of the youngest princess, Zorahayda,
she hesitated, and trembled. Several times she ventured a delicate
little foot upon the ladder, and as often drew it back, while her poor
little heart fluttered more and more the longer she delayed. She
cast a wistful look back into the silken chamber; she had lived in it,
to be sure, like a bird in a cage; but within it she was secure; who
could tell what dangers might beset her, should she flutter forth into
the wide world! Now she bethought her of the gallant Christian
lover, and her little foot was instantly upon the ladder; and anon she
thought of her father, and shrank back. But fruitless is the attempt
to describe the conflict in the bosom of one so young and tender and
loving, but so timid, and so ignorant of the world.
Pages:
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330