at poor wench,
if you mean her any harm, curse me if I will----"

"No harm is intended her," replied Alan. "I applaud your magnanimity,"
added he, sarcastically; "such sentiments are, it must be owned, in
excellent keeping with your conduct."

"In keeping or not," replied Turpin, gravely, "cold-blooded murder is
altogether out of my line, and I wash my hands of it. A shot or two in
self defence is another matter; and when----"

"A truce to this," interrupted Alan; "the girl is safe. Will you mount
guard again?"

"If that be the case, certainly," replied Dick. "I shall be glad to get
back to Bess. I couldn't bring her with me into this black hole. A
couple of shots will tell you 'tis Ranulph Rookwood. But mind, no harm
to the gipsy girl--to Lady Rookwood, I should say. She's a jewel, take
my word for it, which Sir Luke must be mad to throw away." And calling
his companions, he departed.

Alan Rookwood bent his steps towards the gipsy queen. Dark thoughts
gathered quickly o'er his brow. He smiled as he drew nigh to Barbara--a
smile it was

That wrinkled up his skin even to the hair.

Barbara looked at him at first with distrust; but as he developed his
secret purposes, that smile became reflected upon her own features.
Their conference took place apart. We willingly leave them to return to
the altar.

Mrs. Mowbray and the priest were still there. Both were occupied in
ineffectual endeavors to restore Eleanor to consciousness. She recovered
from her swoon; but it was evident her senses still wandered; and vainly
did Mrs. Mowbray lavish her tenderest caresses upon her child. Eleanor
returned them not.

Luke, meanwhile, had given vent to the wildest fury. He shook away
Sybil's grasp; he dashed her from him; he regarded her with withering
glances; he loaded her with reproaches. She bore his violence with
meekest submission; she looked imploringly--but she replied not to his
taunts. Again she clung to the hem of his garment when cast aside. Luke
appeared unmoved; what passed within we pause not to examine. He grew
calmer; his calmness was more terrible to Sybil than his previous wrath
had been.

"You are my wife," said he; "what then? By fraud, by stratagem, you have
obtained that title, and, perforce, must keep it. But the title _only_
shall you retain. No rights of wife shall ever be yours. It will be in
your power to call yourself Lady Rookwood--you will be so in name--in
nothing else."

"I shall not bea