as still she sought to
smile; then, after a short silence, she continued, "Father, of late,
methinks, I have too much forgotten thee; pardon me, if so. Henceforth,
I have no care in life but thee; henceforth let me ever, when thou
toilest, come and sit by thy side. I would not be alone,--I dare not!
Father, Father! God shield thy harmless life! I have nothing to love
under heaven but thee!"

The good man turned wistfully, and raised, with tremulous hands, the sad
face that had pressed itself on his bosom. Gazing thereon mournfully, he
said, "Some new grief hath chanced to thee, my child. Methought I heard
another voice besides thine in yonder room. Ah, has Lord Hastings--"

"Father, spare me! Thou wert too right; thou didst judge too wisely.
Lord Hastings is wedded to another! But see, I can smile still, I am
calm. My heart will not break so long as it hath thee to love and pray
for!"

She wound her arms round him as she spoke, and he roused himself from
his world out of earth again. Though he could bring no comfort, there
was something, at least, to the forlorn one, in his words of love, in
his tears of pity.

They sat down together, side by side, as the evening darkened,--the
Eureka forgotten in the hour of its perfection! They noted not the
torches which flashed below, reddened at intervals the walls of their
chamber, and gave a glow to the gay gilding and bright hues of the gaudy
model. Yet those torches flickered round the litter that was to convey
Henry the Peaceful to the battlefield, which was to decide the dynasty
of his realm! The torches vanished, and forth from the dark fortress
went the captive king.

Night succeeded to eve, when again the red glare shot upward on the
Eureka, playing with fantastic smile on its quaint aspect. Steps and
voices, and the clatter of arms, sounded in the yard, on the stairs,
in the adjoining chamber; and suddenly the door was flung open, and,
followed by some half score soldiers, strode in the terrible friar.

"Aha, Master Adam! who is the greater nigromancer now? Seize him! Away!
And help you, Master Sergeant, to bear this piece of the foul fiend's
cunning devising. Ho, ho! see you how it is tricked out and furbished
up,--all for the battle, I warrant ye!"

The soldiers had already seized upon Adam, who, stupefied by
astonishment rather than fear, uttered no sound, and attempted no
struggle. But it was in vain they sought to tear from him Sibyll's
clinging and protecti