of regret behind. I do remember that once, in this
very room, my temper did o'erleap its bounds and lent my tongue words
which I would give a year of sweet life to unsay. Dost know my
meaning, darling?" he inquired, looking at her with moisture in his
eyes. "'Twas when I had not long arrived from Spain; in truth, 'twas
on the very night when thou----"

"Nay, I will not hear thee repeat," she interrupted, laying her hand
upon his mouth. "I know all, but thou canst not think how happy this
doth make me."

"Didst thou imagine I could mean those wicked words?" asked the man
tenderly, "'Twas a sudden outburst of temper on hearing--well, well,
since thy dainty fingers forbid my speech I will be mute."

"See!" cried Elinor, springing to her feet, in the first happiness of
her relieved mind. "Now thou shalt hear me laugh and sing all through
the day, till thou wilt cry mercy. And mayhap some time thou and I,"
continued the girl, seating herself beside him, "shall leave this
chilly land with all its cares and fly to a fairer country, where cold
winds are not known, where sweet flowers do ever bloom, and we will
love each other; in that, forget all else, and in forgetting; be
forever happy and at rest."

"Perchance, some day," murmured the man. "But now, one more caress and
thou must to thy bed, or 'twill be light ere thou art in dreamland."

She arose, a bright smile upon her face--brighter than he had seen
resting there for many a day.

"Ah!" she cried, once more throwing her arms about him, "would that I
could give to thee the happiness thy words have brought to me."

"And so thou canst," replied the man, suddenly.

"How may that be done?--tell me quickly!" she exclaimed, playfully,
"that I may the sooner begin."

"It is, sweet Elinor," said Fawkes, gazing down into her eyes, "that
thou wilt always love this man before thee--nay, even," he continued
with a depth of feeling in his tone which she had never heard before,
"even shouldst thou hear him branded as--as--no matter what manner of
things might be uttered against him, thou art always to remember that
he at least loved thee with all his heart, and that thou wert his
life." He stopped abruptly; the tears which coursed down his stern
face seemed strangely out of place.

"Ah!" exclaimed the girl, "I cannot bear to have thee doubt me; thou
knowest I shall be ever thy loving daughter, even unto the end of this
life and in the next."

The man was silent for a space