ncouraged by his success in
brushing some aside, will pull harder on the line. It cannot bear the
strain of this impatient force. It breaks, and Gloucester tumbles from
his height of audacity, to be dashed to pieces on the rocks of
consequence."

"Dost thou then think he will dare to usurp the throne, now that the
King's young brother hath escaped falling into his power?" I asked.

"Why not?" he replied.

"That which the Queen said methinks is true; Hastings will be loyal;
but after the example we have to-day, the execution of Rivers, Grey and
Vaughan, what may we expect from the Chancellor's influence? Were he
to oppose the Protector he might be the next to post to Heaven. No,"
continued my friend, "we must not look for succour, from the tyranny of
Richard, to any source but the whole people. They, when they are all
united, have the power to force him to do right. But no single noble
is sufficiently powerful to cope successfully with Gloucester."

"But how long must this crime and tyranny endure, ere a period be put
to them?"

"Not long. Richard is now building a tower of crime. Such structures
are but frail houses in which to dwell. Presently a strong tempest of
popular indignation will sweep across the land; the structure must
fall, and the builder shall be crushed beneath the ruins. He is
building it in great haste; therefore it shall fall the sooner."

Harleston spoke with such confidence, as though the whole scene had
been enacted before his eyes, that one could not help but believe him
to be right.

Just then the girls entered. This put an end to our gloomy
conversation, for which I, for one, was glad. The close life of the
Sanctuary was now beginning to make the effects of its work visible in
the paler hues and careworn looks of the girls' faces.

"Oh, Walter dear, I am so tired of this life of sorrow!" said Hazel,
when we had strolled to that part of the room most distant from Mary
and Frederick.

"Yes, my fair one, and I can see no reason why thou shouldst forever
share the sorrows and burdens of others, even though they are the
troubles of those which thou lovest well. When the present situation
may change, God alone can tell.

"Remember the promise that thou didst make, when we lived in happier
times. When our path seemed flooded with the light of Heaven. Then
came this heavy cloud, that seemeth ever to grow blacker. Let us sweep
on from beneath its chilling shadow, and let the s