be justly accused of
cowardice and of failure to perform his duty. The queen was formerly my
benefactress; how can I stand here to-day, and make no effort to rescue
her from death?"

"But if you should die!"

This cry betrayed Antoinette's love in all its passionate intensity, and
it found an echo in Philip's heart.

"I shall not be killed," said he, trying to make Mlle. de Mirandol share
the conviction that animated his own mind; then, seeing her so sad and
heart-broken at his departure, he added, with mingled remorse and
tenderness:

"When I return, the fulfilment of the promise I made you shall be no
longer delayed."

He had not referred to this subject before for a long time, and these
few words carried unspeakable comfort to Antoinette's heart.

"I have no right to detain you," said she. "Go! May you succeed and soon
return. I shall pray for you."

They conversed some time longer. Philip, who had until then, taken
charge of Antoinette's business interests, told her that he had decided
to entrust them until his return to Mr. Reed. He knew her protector to
be an honest man in whom she could place perfect confidence; still, he
felt that it was not only proper, but necessary, to acquaint the girl
with the extent of her resources and the condition of her affairs. After
he had done this, he asked to see Mr. and Mrs. Reed. He recommended
Mlle. de Mirandol to their care, and for the first time revealed the
fact that she was his betrothed. So at the moment of separation, he
forced himself to render the pang of parting less bitter to her. The
hope of approaching happiness did much to assuage Antoinette's grief,
and Philip was scarcely gone before she began to forget the past in
dreams of the future.

The six weeks that followed Philip's departure were weeks of constant
anxiety and alarm. Antoinette could not close her eyes to the perils
that threatened Philip on every side. The reports that reached London in
regard to the condition of affairs in Paris were not calculated to
reassure her. She heard of the active surveillance exercised by the
Committee of Public Safety, and of the terrible punishment inflicted
upon those who were guilty of no crime save that of being regarded with
suspicion. She was in constant fear lest some misfortune had happened to
Philip. Every night and every morning she prayed for him. He was ever in
her thoughts; and she was continually trying to divine where he was and
what he was doing. Ev