feelings he said, "And so, you have come to take a last farewell,
Virginia. This is very, very kind."

"I regret," said Alfred Bernard, "that the only condition on which I
gained admittance for Miss Temple was, that I should remain during the
interview. Major Hansford will see the necessity of such a precaution,
and will, I am sure, pardon an intrusion as painful to me as to
himself."

The reader, who has been permitted to see the secret workings of that
black heart, which was always veiled from the world, need not be told
that no such precaution was proposed by the Governor. Bernard's object
was more selfish; it was to prevent his victim from prejudicing the mind
of Virginia towards him, by informing her of the prominent part that he
had taken in Hansford's trial and conviction.

"Oh, certainly, sir," replied Hansford, gratefully, "and I thank you,
Mr. Bernard, for thus affording me an opportunity of taking a last
farewell of the strongest tie which yet binds me to earth. I had thought
till now," he added, with emotion, "that I was fully prepared to meet my
fate. Well, Virginia, the play is almost over, and the last dread scene,
tragic though it be, cannot last long."

"Oh, God!" cried the trembling girl, "help me--help me to bear this
heavy blow."

"Nay, speak not thus, my own Virginia," he said. "Remember that my lot
is but the common destiny of mankind, only hastened a few hours. The
leaves, that the chill autumn breath has strewn upon the earth, will be
supplied by others in the spring, which in their turn will sport for a
season in the summer wind, and fade and die with another year. Thus one
generation passes away, and another comes, like them to live, like them
to die and be forgotten. We need not fear death, if we have discharged
our duty."

With such words of cold philosophy did Hansford strive to console the
sad heart of Virginia.

"'Tis true, the death I die," he added with a shudder, "is what men
call disgraceful--but the heart need feel no fear which is sheltered by
the Rock of Ages."

"And yours is sheltered there, I know," she said. "The change for you,
though sudden and awful, must be happy; but for me! for me!--oh, God, my
heart will break!"

"Virginia, Virginia," said Hansford, tenderly, as he tried with his poor
manacled hands to support her almost fainting form, "control yourself.
Oh, do not add to my sorrows by seeing you suffer thus. You have still
many duties to perform--to soothe t