; then mastering his emotion, and
passing a hand quickly across his face, he said: "Think naught of my
words, little one; they were but idle, born of fatigue. Now, once more
good night to thee, and a long, sweet sleep."

So she left him; but at the door she turned, and Fawkes remembered
afterward the bright and happy smile which lay upon her face.

With a light heart she went to rest, for her father's words had
banished from her mind the hideous doubt with which it had so long
been oppressed. The dreadful gulf between them had, at last, been
bridged, and once more they stood together hand in hand as in days
gone by. She was almost unwilling to yield herself to sleep, fearing
lest, on awaking, she might find her happiness but a vision of the
night. Slumber claimed her at last, and she fell into dreams of her
new-found joy. Many hours elapsed and the morning sun shone brightly
into her room, when there fell upon the girl's ear the sound of voices
in the apartment below. Remaining a moment in a dreamy state,
wondering who the early visitors might be, she suddenly caught a
sentence which stiffened the blood within her veins and brought back
to her heart in deadly force the awful fears she had thought forever
gone. Those in the chamber beneath had evidently been in conversation
for some time, for she heard them advancing toward the door as though
to depart. Then a voice, which the girl recognized as Sir Thomas
Winter's, said in a low tone: "Now, the last arrangements are made;
all doth await thy hand. Ah," he continued, "would that I might see
the outcome of this. 'Tis a ghastly thing, even though it be----"

"What?" interrupted another voice, which Elinor knew to be her
father's. "Doth thy heart begin to turn at this late hour? Marry, my
one wish is that even now the clock stood on the stroke of eleven, for
in five minutes thereafter England will be without its King and
Parliament."

"Hast all that thou wilt need?" inquired Winter.

"Yea, verily," the other answered. "Here are flint and steel, quite
new. The touchwood and the lantern are hidden beneath the faggots in
the cellar. But stay, thou hadst better lend me thy time-piece; mine
is not over trustworthy, and I would keep accurate track of the
moments."

"Here is the watch," said the other voice; "it was true to the second
yesterday. And now, for the last time, dost fully understand the
signal? It is to be the first stroke of eleven. The King is expected
at half