befallen him; and she was waiting for time to assuage his sorrow and
awaken feelings responsive to her own.

Under these circumstances one can easily understand why she had awaited
Philip's coming with such feverish impatience. Three weeks had passed
since she had seen him; and all Mrs. Reed's caresses and well-meant
attempts at consolation had failed to overcome her chagrin. Philip had
come at last! She had sprung forward to meet him without making any
effort to conceal the joy awakened by the prospect of a day spent with
him, and she had hardly done this when the young man announced that he
must leave in an hour.

"Will you explain the cause of this hasty departure?" she said, as soon
as they were alone.

Her voice trembled and her lovely eyes were dim with tears.

"I am leaving you, Antoinette, to go where duty calls me," replied
Philip, gravely.

"Duty? What duty?"

"The queen is still imprisoned in the Temple. It is said that she will
soon be sentenced to death. I have formed the project of wresting her
from the hands of her enemies, of rescuing her from their sanguinary
fury."

"Alone?" cried Antoinette, overcome with terror at the thought of the
dangers Philip would incur.

"Six of us have resolved to save her or die! We go together. A vessel is
to convey us to the coast of Brittany. From there we shall make our way
to Paris as best we can."

"But what can you do, you, so few in number?"

"God will be with us," replied Philip. "Besides, we shall find friends
in Paris who will gladly join our little band."

On hearing these words which proved that Philip's determination was
immovable, Antoinette could not control her emotion. She sank into an
arm chair, covered her pale face with her trembling hands and burst into
tears.

"Do not weep so bitterly, my dear Antoinette," said Philip, touched by
her despair and kneeling beside her.

"Why did you not consult me before engaging in this mad and perilous
undertaking?" she said, at last. "You are leaving me, abandoning me
without even asking what my fate will be when I no longer have you to
protect me; without thinking how I shall suffer in your absence, and
forgetting that if you should be killed I too should die!"

Philip, deeply moved, took her hands and said, gently:

"Be comforted; I shall not die; you will see me again soon. Do you not
feel that I should be dishonored if I shrank from the task that is
before me? Could you respect a man who might