"The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears," saidIsabella; but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied theaffected courage which her words expressed.

"Ho! ho!" said the Dwarf, "thou vauntest thyself a philosopher?Yet, shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrustingthyself, young and beautiful, in the power of one so spitedagainst humanity, as to place his chief pleasure in defacing,destroying, and degrading her fairest works?"

Isabella, much alarmed, continued to answer with firmness,"Whatever injuries you may have sustained in the world, you areincapable of revenging them on one whom never wronged you,nor,wilfully, any other."

"Ay, but, maiden," he continued, his dark eyes flashing with anexpression of malignity which communicated itself to his ferocious anddistorted features, "revenge is the hungry wolf, which asks onlyto tear flesh and lap blood. Think you the lamb's plea ofinnocence would be listened to by him?"

"Man!" said Isabella, rising, and expressing herself with muchdignity, "I fear not the horrible ideas with which you wouldimpress me. I cast them from me with disdain. Be you mortal orfiend, you would not offer injury to one who sought you as asuppliant in her utmost need. You would not--you durst not."