{"product_id":"2940011876080","title":"CAVA OF TOLEDO; or The Gothic Princess - A Romance. Volume II","description":"This ebook edition has been proofed and corrected for errors and compiled to be read with without errors!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e***\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn excerpt from the beginning of:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER V.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eTHE Gothic princess passed a restless night; she arose weary and unrefreshed; and felt both hurt and unhappy at leaving the castle of Aleanzar, Zamora, and even Aleanzar himself, in the manner she was about to do. He had promised to send her back in safety to her mother, at least he had strongly intimated his intentions; could she doubt his honour? He appeared conscious, and ashamed of the error he had committed; was it fair to fly from him in the manner she intended? and with strangers too! with those whose names even she was unacquainted with! Would it not be most advisable to wait Aleanzar’s return, and divulging to him her mother’s ill state of health, trust to his honour to restore her in safety?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe soon discarded these thoughts: her mother’s letter was positive; it commanded her return with the messengers; they were commissioned by her; every moment of delay brought her beloved parent nearer the grave; she might never behold her more! This sad idea removed all doubt in the mind of Cava, and fixed her determination of quitting the castle that night.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe anxious princess passed the whole of the day in a state of mind the most disagreeable to her feelings. She and Zamora followed their usual occupations without taking any interest in what they were about. Zamora could not but observe that something of a sombre nature hung on the mind of her friend, and tinctured her words and actions with an unusual melancholy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt sunset, Cava took the lute, and sung some beautiful airs, ending with one that was a tender and affectionate farewell to a friend, whom the composer supposed he should never meet again. She sung it twice with peculiar pathos. Zamora had never heard it before; she was charmed with it, and besought the princess to teach it to her. Cava could no longer restrain herself; she burst into tears, and laid down the lute. She was near avowing to Zamora, that that night was to separate them, perhaps for ever; but prudence whispered caution; and Zulima entering at the moment, and perceiving the inward struggle of the princess, soon found means to give a different and more lively turn to the conversation; and carefully watched the friends till the hour of repose. Cava got the better of her own feelings, and calmly parted with Zamora at the door of her chamber, when entering her own, she made what little preparation was necessary for her voyage. A thick veil, and a large loose robe to wrap herself in, over her usual dress, was all she chose from her magnificent wardrobe. Her mother’s letter and picture she placed in her bosom, where Alonzo’s had long been hid. The jewels which the countess had sent her she carefully examined, and was pleased to find among them some that were of great value, and she hoped would be kindly accepted, where she wished to bestow them. A fine sapphire clasp for the bosom of a robe she selected for Zamora, and an emerald ring of great value she destined for Aleanzar; and meant to bestow a less rare, though costly jewel, on Zulima.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHaving written an affectionate farewell to Zamora, entreated her to accept the token of friendship she left, to present the emerald to Aleanzar in her name, and to make her peace with him for her sudden and unknown departure, she ended— “May you both be happy in each other! to hear that you are so, will give comfort to the broken heart of the miserable Cava. Wear these jewels for my sake; think of me—love me; you can never be forgotten by me. In this castle, as sister to both, I could have serenely passed the rest of my days; but fate forbids it; and, if I judge truly, an early grave will soon shut out my sorrows.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHaving directed her letter and the jewels, she left them on a table, where she knew they must be soon discovered, and was about to put on her veil and seek Zulima in the garden; but affection for Zamora, and an ardent wish once more to behold her, and give her a parting embrace, conquered prudence, and led her to the door of her friend’s chamber. She softly opened it; a perfumed lamp was burning on a stand, and the lovely Zamora was stretched upon a couch, in a profound sleep. The last song which Cava had sung, and written down for her friend in the course of the evening, was lying by her; she had been impressing the words on her memory before she slept, and they had just fallen from her hand. Cava gazed on her with pleasure and sorrow.","brand":"Leila's Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47173177180400,"sku":"2940011876080","price":1.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940011876080_p0.jpg?v=1763550759","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940011876080","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}