naction? In what lies the
difference between hero and coward?"

"It does not lie in victory, my Adalgoth, but in the kind of strife or
endurance! Not justice, but necessity decides the fate of nations.
Often enough has the better man, the nobler race, succumbed to the
meaner. 'Tis true that generosity and nobility of mind are in
themselves a power. But they are not always able to defy other and
ignoble powers. Noble-mindedness, generosity, and heroism can always
consecrate and glorify a downfall, but not always prevent it. And the
only comfort we have is, that it is not _what_ we endure, but _how_ we
endure it, that honours us the most; it is often not the victor, but
the conquered hero, who deserves the crown of laurels."

The King looked meditatively at the ground, leaning on his sword.

"How much thou must have suffered, friend," he then said warmly,
"before thou couldst embrace such a dark error! Thou hast lost thy God
in heaven! For me, that would be worse than to lose the sun in the
sky--I should feel as if blinded. I could not breathe if I could not
believe in a just God, who looks down from His heavenly throne upon the
deeds of men, and makes the good cause to triumph!"

"And King Witichis?" asked Teja; "what evil had he done? that man
without spot or blemish! And I myself, and----"

He suddenly became silent.

"Thy life has been a mystery to me since our early youth----"

"Enough for the present," said Teja. "I have this evening revealed more
of my inmost heart than in many a long year. The time will surely come
when I may unfold to thee my life and my thoughts. I should not like,"
he continued, turning to Adalgoth, and stroking his shining locks, "to
dim too soon the bright harp-strings of the youngest and best singer of
our nation."

"As thou wilt," said the King, rising. "To me thy sorrow is sacred.
But, I pray thee, let us cherish our refound friendship. To-morrow I go
to Taginae, to my bride. Accompany me--that is, if it does not pain thee
to see me happy with a Roman woman."

"Oh no--it touches me--it reminds me of---- I will go with thee!"

CHAPTER II.

Soon after this conversation, the King, Earl Teja, Adalgoth, and a
numerous suite, arrived at the small town of Taginae, above which, on a
precipitous and thickly-wooded height, stood the cloister founded by
Valerius, in which Valeria still continued to reside.

For her the place had lost all its terrors