printing a
long and impassioned kiss upon her lips.

The lovers were startled from their embrace by a profound sigh; it
proceeded from Handassah, who, unbidden, had replaced the picture of the
Lady Eleanor upon its frame. The augury seemed sinister. Every one who
has gazed steadfastly upon a portrait must have noticed the peculiar and
lifelike character which, under certain aspects, the eyes will assume.
Seen by the imperfect light upon the table, the whole character of the
countenance of the Lady Eleanor seemed changed; the features appeared to
be stamped with melancholy, and the eyes to be fixed with pitying
tenderness upon her descendants. Both gazed at each other and at the
picture, struck with the same sentiment of undefined awe. Beside them
stood the dark figure of the gipsy girl, watching, with ill-concealed
satisfaction, the effect of her handiwork. Ranulph was aroused from his
abstraction by hearing a loud outcry in Mrs. Mowbray's voice. Hastily
committing Eleanor to the care of her attendant, he left the room.
Handassah followed him to the door, closed it after him, and then locked
it within side. This done, she walked back hastily towards Eleanor,
exclaiming, in a tone of exultation, "You have parted with him forever."

"What mean you, girl?" cried Eleanor, alarmed at her manner. "Why have
you fastened the door? Open it, I command you."

"Command _me_!" laughed Handassah, scornfully. "What if I refuse your
mandate? What, if, in my turn, I bid _you_ obey _me_? I never owned but
one mistress. If I have bowed my neck to you for a time, 'twas to fulfil
her dying wishes. If I have submitted to your control, it was to
accomplish what I have now accomplished. Your oath! Remember your oath.
The hour is come for its fulfilment."

With these words Handassah clapped her hands. A panel in the wall
opened, and Luke stood suddenly before them. Silently and with stern
deliberation he strode towards Eleanor, and seizing one of her hands,
drew her forcibly towards him. Eleanor resisted not; she had not the
power; neither did she scream, for so paralyzing was her terror, that
for the moment it took away all power of utterance. Luke neither stirred
nor spoke, but, still maintaining his hold, gazed searchingly upon her
features, while Eleanor, as if spell-bound, could not withdraw her eyes
from him. Nothing more terribly impressive could be conceived than
Luke's whole appearance. Harassed and exhausted by the life he had
rec