ite cuffs, such as she had worn ever since her entrance into the
convent. Her head was turned toward the window and bowed upon her hand in
an attitude of meditation. She neither saw nor heard the soft approach of
the duke. He stood gazing on her with infinite pity, for a moment, and
then laying his hand gently on her shoulder, whispered:

"Salome!"

She started up with a wild cry of joy! She would have sank down at his
feet, but he caught her to his bosom, held her there, stroking her hair,
kissing her face, murmuring in her ear:

"Salome, Salome, my sweet wife, Salome! Oh, how thankful! Oh, how glad
I am to meet you!"

She could not answer him. She could not speak. She was overwhelmed by his
goodness. She could only burst into tears and weep like a storm upon his
bosom.

He sat down on the sofa, and drew her to his side, keeping his arm around
her and resting her head upon his bosom, while still he smoothed her hair
with his hands, and kissed her from time to time, until she ceased to
weep.

"I can never forgive myself," she murmured at length--"never forgive
myself for the deep wrong I have done your noble nature; nor do I ask you
to forgive me; because--because your every tone and look and gesture
expresses the full forgiveness, you are too delicate and generous to
speak!"

"No, sweet wife, do not ask me to forgive you; for you have done no
willful wrong that needs forgiveness. And I have no forgiveness for you,
sweet, but only love! infinite, eternal love! Our past is dead and
buried. Let it be forgotten. You will leave this house with me this
evening, love. And as soon as our duties will release us from this
neighborhood we will return to England, where a host of friends will
welcome us home. And here is something that will surprise and please you,
love. Your flight is not known to the world. We are believed to be living
in Italy together, where I have been traveling alone in secret search for
you these many months. We shall return to society as from a lengthened
wedding tour. Come, love, will you go away with me this very evening?"

"I will go anywhere, do anything you wish--for, under God, henceforth
I have no will but yours, oh, my lord and love!" murmured the young wife,
sweetly, and solemnly, as she turned her face to his, and he sealed her
promise with an earnest kiss.

The same evening the Duke of Hereward took his recovered bride to the
pretty, rustic inn at L'Ange, and installed her in a pleasan