s hands concealed his face.

"Impossible!--she who trusted, who trusts--who so loves--she whose whole
youth hath been consumed in patient faith in me!--Resign her! and for
another! I cannot--I cannot. Take from me the throne!--Oh vain heart of
man, that so long desired its own curse!--Crown the Atheling; my manhood
shall defend his youth.--But not this offering! No, no--I will not!"

It were tedious to relate the rest of that prolonged and agitatated
conference. All that night, till the last stars waned, and the bells of
prime were heard from church and convent, did the priest and the brother
alternately plead and remonstrate, chide and soothe; and still Harold's
heart clung to Edith's, with its bleeding roots. At length they, perhaps
not unwisely, left him to himself; and as, whispering low their hopes and
their fears of the result of the self-conflict, they went forth from the
convent, Haco joined them in the courtyard, and while his cold mournful
eye scanned the faces of priest and brother, he asked them "how they had
sped?"

Alred shook his head and answered:

"Man's heart is more strong in the flesh than true to the spirit."

"Pardon me, father," said Haco, "if I suggest that your most eloquent and
persuasive ally in this, were Edith herself. Start not so incredulously;
it is because she loves the Earl more than her own life, that--once show
her that the Earl's safety, greatness, honour, duty, lie in release from
his troth to her--that nought save his erring love resists your counsels
and his country's claims--and Edith's voice will have more power than
yours."

The virtuous prelate, more acquainted with man's selfishness than woman's
devotion, only replied by an impatient gesture. But Gurth, lately wedded
to a woman worthy of him, said gravely:

"Haco speaks well, my father; and methinks it is due to both that Edith
should not, unconsulted, be abandoned by him for whom she has abjured all
others; to whom she has been as devoted in heart as if sworn wife
already. Leave we awhile my brother, never the slave of passion, and
with whom England must at last prevail over all selfish thought; and ride
we at once to tell to Edith what we have told to him; or rather--woman
can best in such a case speak to woman--let us tell all to our
Lady--Edward's wife, Harold's sister, and Edith's holy godmother--and
abide by her counsel. On the third day we shall return."

"Go we so charged, noble Gurth," said Haco, obse