we must not talk like this! There is no alternative. You are to
go, I am to stay. The future is before us; God knows what it may bring
to us. Perhaps it may be good enough to give us happiness--who knows? Do
not plead with me. I cannot endure it. Let me be strong again! You will
not be so cruel as to battle against me, now that I am weak; it would
only mean my destruction. You do not seek that!"

His soul, his honor, the greatest reverence he had ever known were in
the kiss that touched her brow.

"I shall love you as you command--without hope," he said, sadly.

"Without hope for either," she sobbed.

"My poor little soldier," he whispered, lovingly, as her body writhed
under the storm of tears.

"I--I wish--I were a--soldier!" she wailed. He comforted her as best
he could and soon she was quiet--oh, so very quiet. Her head was on his
shoulder, her hands in his.

"How far do we drive?" he asked, at last.

"To the monastery. We are nearly there." she answered, in tones far
away.

"The monastery? Why do we go there?" he cried.

"You are to stay there."

"What do you mean? I thought I was to leave Graustark."

"You are to leave--later on. Until the excitement is over the abbey is
to be your hiding place. I have arranged everything, and it is the only
safe place on earth for you at this time. No one will think of looking
for you up there."

"I would to God I could stay there forever, living above you," he said,
drearily.

"Your window looks down upon the castle; mine looks up to yours. The
lights that burn in those two windows will send out beams of love and
life for one of us, at least."

"For both of us, my sweetheart," he corrected, fondly. "You say I will
be safe there. Can you trust these men who are aiding you?"

"With my life! Quinnox carried a message to the Abbot yesterday, and he
grants you a temporary home there, secure and as secret as the tomb. He
promises me this, and he is my best friend. Now, let me tell you why I
am with you, masquerading so shamefully--"

"Adorably!" he protested.

"It is because the Abbot insisted that I bring you to him personally. He
will not receive you except from my hands. There was nothing else for me
to do, then, was there, Lorry? I was compelled to come and I could not
come as the Princess--as a woman. Discovery would have meant degradation
from which I could not have hoped to recover. The military garments were
my only safeguard."

"And how many people kn