ed from the sheer delight
of looking at her.

"Again Baron Ned is right, Frances," said Hamilton, offering to lead her
toward the St. George door. "You must not remain. We may be surprised by
the sheriffs at any moment, in which case you would suffer in reputation
and I might not be able to escape."

We passed into the tapestried room, and after Hamilton had closed the
St. George door, we paused for a moment before leaving. Presently I
started to go, but Frances held back. I had reached the outer door and
was waiting, somewhat impatiently, when Betty came up to me, opened the
door, drew me outside, closed the door, and whispered:--

"Don't you understand? They would be alone a moment."

"Do you think so, Betty?" I asked, laughing at her earnestness.

"I know it," she returned emphatically.

When George and Frances were alone, she said: "I shall never again give
you cause to say that I am cruel, for I shall never again see you." She
tried to keep back the tears, but failed, and after a moment, continued,
unheeding them, "If you could but know the joy this meeting has given me
and the grief of parting, you would understand my sorrow for having
wronged you, and would know the deep pain of farewell."

"I have not spoken of my love for you," said George, "because it is so
plain that words are not needed to express it, and because you have known
it far better than I could tell it ever since the sweet days on the
Bourne Path. To speak it would seem to mar it by half expression. But
it will be yours always, and I shall take it to my grave. It has been
my redemption, and, as long as I live, no other woman shall enter my
heart."

He fell to his knee, catching her hands and kissing them passionately,
but she raised him, saying:--

"If it is your will, I shall refuse the Duke of Tyrconnel, regardless of
my duty to my father and my house, and shall wait for you, happy even in
the waiting, or share your fortune, be it good or ill, from this hour.
Which shall it be?"

"Soon I shall be an exile, or climbing the steps of a scaffold on Tyburn
Hill. This must be our farewell. Do not remain a moment longer. May God
help me and bring happiness to you!" said Hamilton, answering her
question all too plainly.

She drew his face down to hers and kissed his lips, till from very fear
of himself he thrust her from him and led her weeping to the outer door.

When Frances came out to Betty and me, she was holding her handkerchief
to h