ngs
the pure and virgin glory of his youth.

"Oh, Sibyll!" he exclaimed passionately, and yielding to the impulse of
the moment,--"oh, that for me, as to me, such high words were said! Oh,
that all the triumphs of a life men call prosperous were excelled by the
one triumph of waking such an ambition in such a heart!"

Sibyll stood before him transformed,--pale, trembling, mute,--and
Hastings, clasping her hand and covering it with kisses, said,--

"Dare I arede thy silence? Sibyll, thou lovest me--O Sibyll, speak!"

With a convulsive effort, the girl's lips moved, then closed, then moved
again, into low and broken words.

"Why this, why this? Thou hadst promised not to--not to--"

"Not to insult thee by unworthy vows! Nor do I. But as my wife." He
paused abruptly, alarmed at his own impetuous words, and scared by the
phantom of the world that rose like a bodily thing before the generous
impulse, and grinned in scorn of his folly.

But Sibyll heard only that one holy word of WIFE, and so sudden and so
great was the transport it called forth, that her senses grew faint
and dizzy, and she would have fallen to the earth but for the arms that
circled her, and the breast upon which, now, the virgin might veil the
blush that did not speak of shame.

With various feelings, both were a moment silent. But oh, that moment!
what centuries of bliss were crowded into it for the nobler and fairer
nature!

At last, gently releasing herself, she put her hands before her eyes, as
if to convince herself she was awake, and then, turning her lovely face
full upon the wooer, Sibyll said ingenuously,--

"Oh, my lord--oh, Hastings! if thy calmer reason repent not these words,
if thou canst approve in me what thou didst admire in Elizabeth the
queen, if thou canst raise one who has no dower but her heart to the
state of thy wife and partner, by this hand, which I place fearlessly
in thine, I pledge thee to such a love as minstrel hath never sung. No!"
she continued, drawing loftily up her light stature,--"no, thou shalt
not find me unworthy of thy name,--mighty though it is, mightier though
it shall be. I have a mind that can share thine objects, I have pride
that can exult in thy power, courage to partake thy dangers, and
devotion--" she hesitated, with the most charming blush--"but of that,
sweet lord, thou shalt judge hereafter! This is my dowry,--it is all!"

"And all I ask or covet," said Hastings. But his cheek had lost its
f