uld you attend one over whom the sword
hangs, through a life subjected every hour to discovery and disgrace?
Could you be subjected yourself to the moodiness of an evil memory and
the gloomy silence of remorse? Could you be the victim of one who has no
merit but his love for you, and who, if that love destroy you, becomes
utterly redeemed? Yes, Lucy, I was wrong--I will do you justice; all
this, nay, more, you could bear, and your generous nature would disdain
the sacrifice. But am I to be all selfish, and you all devoted? Are you
to yield everything to me, and I to accept everything and yield none?
Alas! I have but one good, one blessing to yield, and that is yourself.
Lucy, I deserve you; I outdo you in generosity. All that you would
desert for me is nothing--O God!--nothing to the sacrifice I make
to you! And now, Lucy, I have seen you, and I must once more bid you
farewell; I am on the eve of quitting this country forever. I shall
enlist in a foreign service. Perhaps" (and Clifford's dark eyes flashed
with fire) "you will yet hear of me, and not blush when you hear! But"
(and his voice faltered, for Lucy, hiding her face with both hands,
gave way to her tears and agitation),--"but, in one respect, you have
conquered. I had believed that you could never be mine,--that my past
life had forever deprived me of that hope! I now begin, with a rapture
that can bear me through all ordeals, to form a more daring vision. A
soil maybe effaced,--an evil name maybe redeemed,--the past is not set
and sealed, without the power of revoking what has been written. If
I can win the right of meriting your mercy, I will throw myself on it
without reserve; till then, or till death, you will see me no more!"

He dropped on his knee, left his kiss and his tears upon Lucy's cold
hand; the next moment she heard his step on the stairs, the door closed
heavily and jarringly upon him, and Lucy felt one bitter pang, and, for
some time at least, she felt no more!

CHAPTER XXXI.

Many things fall between the cup and the lip!
Your man does please me
With his conceit.
...............
Comes Chanon Hugh accoutred as you see
Disguised!
And thus am I to gull the constable?
Now have among you for a man at arms.
...............
High-constable was more, though
He l