, so danger-bound
and suffering, and withal so daring and so recklessly confident in the
might and right of love, and the omnipotence of youth. Ah! If God had
seen fit in his infinite wisdom to save just one treasure from the
wreck of Eden, what a race of thankful hearts this earth would bear,
had he saved us youth alone therewith to compensate us for every other
ill.

As to the elopement, it was determined that Brandon should leave
London the following day for Bristol, and make all arrangements along
the line. He would carry with him two bundles, his own and Mary's
clothing, and leave them to be taken up when they should go
a-shipboard. Eight horses would be procured; four to be left as a
relay at an inn between Berkeley Castle and Bristol, and four to be
kept at the rendezvous some two leagues the other side of Berkeley for
the use of Brandon, Mary and the two men from Bristol who were to act
as an escort on the eventful night. There was one disagreeable little
feature that we could not provide against nor entirely eliminate. It
was the fact that Jane and I should be suspected as accomplices before
the fact of Mary's elopement; and, as you know, to assist in the
abduction of a princess is treason--for which there is but one remedy.
I thought I had a plan to keep ourselves safe if I could only stifle
for the once Jane's troublesome and vigorous tendency to preach the
truth to all people, upon all subjects and at all times and places.
She promised to tell the story I would drill into her, but I knew the
truth would seep out in a thousand ways. She could no more hold it
than a sieve can hold water. We were playing for great stakes, which,
if I do say it, none but the bravest hearts, bold and daring as the
truest knights of chivalry, would think of trying for. Nothing less
than the running away with the first princess of the first blood royal
of the world. Think of it! It appalls me even now. Discovery meant
death to one of us surely--Brandon; possibly to two others--Jane and
me; certainly, if Jane's truthfulness should become unmanageable, as
it was so apt to do.

After we had settled everything we could think of, the girls took
their leave; Mary slyly kissing Brandon at the door. I tried to induce
Jane to follow her lady's example, but she was as cool and distant as
the new moon.

I saw Jane again that night and told her in plain terms what I thought
of her treatment of me. I told her it was selfish and unkind to ta