s to-morrow;
The wolf keeps festival these stormy nights:
Be calm, sweet Lady, they are wassailers
[The voices die away in the distance.]
Returning from their Feast--my heart beats so--
A noise at midnight does _so_ frighten me.

IDONEA Hush! [Listening.]

ELEANOR They are gone. On such a night, my husband,
Dragged from his bed, was cast into a dungeon,
Where, hid from me, he counted many years,
A criminal in no one's eyes but theirs--
Not even in theirs--whose brutal violence
So dealt with him.

IDONEA I have a noble Friend
First among youths of knightly breeding, One
Who lives but to protect the weak or injured.
There again!
[Listening.]

ELEANOR 'Tis my husband's foot. Good Eldred
Has a kind heart; but his imprisonment
Has made him fearful, and he'll never be
The man he was.

IDONEA I will retire;--good night!
[She goes within.]

[Enter ELDRED (hides a bundle)]

ELDRED Not yet in bed, Eleanor!--there are stains in that frock
which must be washed out.

ELEANOR What has befallen you?

ELDRED I am belated, and you must know the cause--
(speaking low)
that is the blood of an unhappy Man.

ELEANOR Oh! we are undone for ever.

ELDRED Heaven forbid that I should lift my hand against any man.
Eleanor, I have shed tears to-night, and it comforts
me to think of it.

ELEANOR Where, where is he?

ELDRED I have done him no harm, but----it will be forgiven me; it
would not have been so once.

ELEANOR You have not _buried_ anything? You are no richer than
when you left me?

ELDRED Be at peace; I am innocent.

ELEANOR Then God be thanked--

[A short pause; she falls upon his neck.]

ELDRED Tonight I met with an old Man lying stretched upon the
ground--a sad spectacle: I raised him up with a hope
that we might shelter and restore him.

ELEANOR (as if ready to run)
Where is he? You were not able to bring him _all_ the w