result. The
names of Berkeley and of Bacon were upon their lips--and as the proud
old Governor gazed from the window at that happy crowd, and saw with the
admiring eye of a brave man, the tall and martial form of Nathaniel
Bacon at their head, he scarcely regretted in that moment that his loyal
name had been linked with the name of a traitor.

CHAPTER XXII.

"Me glory summons to the martial scene,
The field of combat is the sphere of men;
Where heroes war the foremost place I claim,
The first in danger, as the first in fame."
_Pope's Iliad._

We return to Virginia Temple, who, although not an eye-witness of the
scene which we have just described, was far from being disinterested in
its result. The words of the singular woman, with whom she had
conversed, had made some impression upon her mind. Although disgusted
with the facility with which Dame Drummond had distorted and perverted
Scripture to justify her own wild absurdities, Virginia still felt that
there was much cause for self-reproach in her conduct to her lover. She
felt every assurance that though he might err, he would err from
judgment alone; and how little did she know of the questions at issue
between the aroused people and the government. Indeed, when she saw the
character of those with whom Hansford was associated--men not impelled
by the blind excitement of a mob, but evidently actuated by higher
principles of right and justice, her heart misgave her that, perhaps,
she had permitted prejudice to carry her too far in her opposition to
their cause. The struggle in her mind was indeed an unequal one. It was
love pleading against ignorant prejudice, and that at the forum of a
woman's heart. Can it be wondered at that Virginia Temple, left to
herself, without an adviser, yielded to the powerful plea, and freely
and fully forgave her rebel lover? And when she thought, too, that,
however guilty to his country, he had, at least, been ever faithful to
her, she added to her forgiveness of him the bitterest self-reproach. On
one thing she was resolved, that notwithstanding the apparent indelicacy
of such a course, she would grant him the interview which he requested,
and if she could not win him from his error, at least part from him,
though forever, as a friend. She felt that it was due to her former
love, and to his unwavering devotion, to grant this last request.

Once determined on her c