I live on; and--'
her sobs stopped her speech, till she cried again, 'I believe it not!
thou hast deceived me. Only from his lips will I hear the sentence.' Go
to her, manfully and frankly, as becomes you, high lord,--go! It Is but
a single sentence thou hast to say, and thy heart will be the lighter,
and thine arm the stronger for those honest words."

Hastings pulled his cap over his brow, and stood a moment as if in
reflection; he then said, "Show me the way; thou art right. It is due to
her and to thee; and as by this hour to-morrow my soul may stand before
the Judgment-seat, that poor child's pardon may take one sin from the
large account."

CHAPTER II. SHARP IS THE KISS OF THE FALCON'S BEAR.

Hastings stood in the presence of the girl to whom he had pledged his
truth. They were alone; but in the next chamber might be heard the
peculiar sound made by the mechanism of the Eureka. Happy and lifeless
mechanism, which moves, and toils, and strives on, to change the destiny
of millions, but hath neither ear nor eye, nor sense nor heart,--the
avenues of pain to man! She had--yes, literally--she had recognized her
lover's step upon the stair, she had awakened at once from that dull and
icy lethargy with which the words of Alwyn had chained life and soul.
She sprang forward as Hastings entered; she threw herself in delirious
joy upon his bosom. "Thou art come, thou art! It is not true, not true.
Heaven bless thee! thou art come!" But sudden as the movement was the
recoil. Drawing herself back, she gazed steadily on his face, and said,
"Lord Hastings, they tell me thy hand is another's. Is it true?"

"Hear me!" answered the nobleman. "When first I--"

"O God! O God! he answers not, he falters! Speak! Is it true?"

"It is true. I am wedded to another."

Sibyll did not fall to the ground, nor faint, nor give vent to noisy
passion. But the rich colour, which before had been varying and fitful,
deserted her cheek, and left it of an ashen whiteness; the lips, too,
grew tightly compressed, and her small fingers, interlaced, were clasped
with strained and convulsive energy, so that the quivering of the very
arms was perceptible. In all else she seemed composed, as she said,
"I thank you, my lord, for the simple truth; no more is needed. Heaven
bless you and yours! Farewell!"

"Stay! you shall--you must hear me on. Thou knowest how dearly in youth
I loved Katherine Nevile. In manhood the memory of that love haunted me