ke through a dead heart than a hangman's hands upon a live one."

"One moment," I said. "Doth my Lord Carnal know of this decision of the
Governor's?"

"Ay, and a fine passion it put him into. Stormed and swore and
threatened, and put the Governor's back up finely. It seems that he
thought to 'bout ship to-morrow, lady and all. He refuseth to go without
the lady, and so remaineth in Virginia until he can have his will. Lord!
but Buckingham would be a happy man if he were kept here forever and a
day! My lord knows what he risks, and he's in as black a humor as ever
you saw. But I have striven to drop oil on the troubled waters. 'My
lord,' I told him, 'you have but to posses your soul with patience for a
few short weeks, just until the ship the Governor sends can return. Then
all must needs be as your lordship wishes. In the meantime, you may find
existence in these wilds and away from that good company which is the
soul of life endurable, and perhaps pleasant. You may have daily sight
of the lady who is to become your wife, and that should count for
much with so ardent and determined a lover as your lordship hath shown
yourself to be. You may have the pleasure of contemplating your rival's
grave, if you kill him. If he kills you, you will care the less about
the date of the Santa Teresa's sailing. The land, too, hath inducements
to offer to a philosophical and contemplative mind such as one whom his
Majesty delighteth to honor must needs possess. Beside these crystal
rivers and among these odoriferous woods, my lord, one escapes much
expense, envy, contempt, vanity, and vexation of mind.'"

The hoary sinner laughed and laughed. When he had gone away, still in
huge enjoyment of his own mirth, I, who had seen small cause for mirth,
went slowly indoors. Not a yard from the door, in the shadow of the
vines that draped the window, stood the woman who was bringing this fate
upon me.

"I thought that you were in your own room," I said harshly, after a
moment of dead silence.

"I came to the window," she replied. "I listened. I heard all." She
spoke haltingly, through dry lips. Her face was as white as her ruff,
but a strange light burned in her eyes, and there was no trembling.
"This morning you said that all that you had--your name and your
sword--were at my service. You may take them both again, sir. I refuse
the aid you offer. Swear what you will, tell them what you please, make
your peace whilst you may. I will not hav