“Poor child,” replied Isabella, kindly.  “But, since thou wert once more free, since Stanley was cleared of even the suspicion of guilt, has no former feeling for him returned!  He loves thee, Marie, with such faithful love as in man I have seldom seen equalled; why check affection now?”

“Alas! my liege, what may a Jewess be to him; or his love to me, save as the most terrible temptation to estrange me from my God?”

“Say rather to gently lure thee to Him, Marie,” replied Isabella, earnestly.  “There is a thick veil between thy heart and thy God now; let the love thou bearest this young Englishman be the blessed means of removing it, and bringing thee to the sole source of salvation, the Saviour Stanley worships.  One word—­one little word—­from thee, and thou shalt be Stanley’s wife!  His own; dearer than ever from the trials of the past.  Oh! speak it, Marie!  Let me feel I have saved thee from everlasting torment, and made this life—­in its deep, calm joy—­a foretaste of the heaven that, as a Christian, will await thee above.  Spare Stanley—­aye, and thy Sovereign—­the bitter grief of losing thee for ever!”

“Would—­would I could!” burst wildly from the heart-stricken Marie; and she wrung her hands in that one moment of intense agony, and looked up in the Queen’s face, with an expression of suffering Isabella could not meet.  “Would that obedience, conviction, could come at will!  His wife?—­Stanley’s.  To rest this desolate heart on his?  To weep upon his bosom?—­feel his arm around me?—­his love protect me?  To be his—­all his?  And only on condition of speaking one little word?  Oh! why can I not speak it?  Why will that dread voice sound within, telling me I dare not—­cannot—­for I do not believe?  How dare I take the Christians’s vow, embrace the cross, and in my heart remain a Jewess still?”

“Embrace the cross, and conviction will follow,” replied the Queen.  “This question we have asked of Father Tomas, and been assured that the vows of baptism once taken, grace will be found from on high; and to the heart, as well as lip, conversion speedily ensue.  Forswear the blaspheming errors of thy present creed—­consent to be baptized—­and that very hour sees thee Stanley’s wife!”

“No, no, no!—­Oh! say not such words again!  My liege, my gracious liege, tempt not this weak spirit more!” implored Marie, in fearful agitation.  “Oh! if thou hast ever loved me, in mercy spare me this!”

“In mercy is it that we do thus speak, unhappy girl.” replied Isabella, with returning firmness; for she saw the decisive moment had come.  “We have laid both alternatives before thee; it rests with thee alone to make thine own election.  Love on earth and joy in Heaven, depends upon one word:  refuse to speak it, and thou knowest thy doom!”