ow dearly the safety of that sleep was purchased. That morrow
she had so yearned for,--it had come at last. HOW WOULD SHE GREET
THE EVE? Amidst all the exquisite hopes with which love and youth
contemplate the future, her eyes had closed. Those hopes still lent
their iris-colours to her dreams. She would wake to live! To-morrow, and
the Reign of Terror was no more; the prison gates would be opened,--she
would go forth, with their child, into that summer-world of light. And
HE?--he turned, and his eye fell upon the child; it was broad awake, and
that clear, serious, thoughtful look which it mostly wore, watched him
with a solemn steadiness. He bent over and kissed its lips.

"Never more," he murmured, "O heritor of love and grief,--never more
wilt thou see me in thy visions; never more will the light of those
eyes be fed by celestial commune; never more can my soul guard from
thy pillow the trouble and the disease. Not such as I would have vainly
shaped it, must be thy lot. In common with thy race, it must be thine
to suffer, to struggle, and to err. But mild be thy human trials, and
strong be thy spirit to love and to believe! And thus, as I gaze upon
thee,--thus may my nature breathe into thine its last and most intense
desire; may my love for thy mother pass to thee, and in thy looks may
she hear my spirit comfort and console her. Hark! they come! Yes! I
await ye both beyond the grave!"

The door slowly opened; the jailer appeared, and through the aperture
rushed, at the same instant, a ray of sunlight: it streamed over the
fair, hushed face of the happy sleeper,--it played like a smile upon
the lips of the child that, still, mute, and steadfast, watched the
movements of its father. At that moment Viola muttered in her sleep,
"The day is come,--the gates are open! Give me thy hand; we will go
forth! To sea, to sea! How the sunshine plays upon the waters!--to home,
beloved one, to home again!"

"Citizen, thine hour is come!"

"Hist! she sleeps! A moment! There, it is done! thank Heaven!--and STILL
she sleeps!" He would not kiss, lest he should awaken her, but gently
placed round her neck the amulet that would speak to her, hereafter,
the farewell,--and promise, in that farewell, reunion! He is at the
threshold,--he turns again, and again. The door closes! He is gone
forever!

She woke at last,--she gazed round. "Zanoni, it is day!" No answer but
the low wail of her child. Merciful Heaven! was it then all a dream?