d thee through the English camp. Our faithful friend, the minstrel
seer, will be thy guide, and lead thee to a home of peace and safety,
until my brother's happier fortune dawns; he will guard and love thee
for thine own and for my sake. Speak to me, beloved; thou knowest this
good old man, and I so trust him that I have no fear for thee. Oh, do
not pause, and ere this truce be over let me, let me feel that thou art
safe and free, and may in time be happy."

"In time," she repeated slowly, as if to herself, and then, rousing
herself from that stupor of emotion, looked up with a countenance on
which a sudden glow had spread. "And why hast thou so suddenly resolved
on this?" she asked, calmly; "why shouldst thou fear for me more now
than hitherto, dearest Nigel? Hath not the danger always been the same,
and yet thou ne'er hast breathed of parting? are not thy hopes the
same--what hath chanced unknown to me, that thou speakest and lookest
thus? tell me, ere thou urgest more."

"I will tell thee what I fear, my love," he answered, reassured by her
firmness; "much that is seen not, guessed not by my comrades. They were
satisfied that my appeal had had its effect, and the execution of Evan
Roy was attended with no disturbance, no ill will amongst those supposed
to be of his party--nay, that terror did its work, and all ideas of
treachery which might have been before encouraged were dismissed. I,
too, believed this, Agnes, for a while; but a few brief hours were
sufficient to prove the utter fallacy of the dream. Some secret
conspiracy is, I am convinced, carrying on within these very walls. I
know and feel this, and yet so cautious, so secret are their movements,
whatever they may be, that I cannot guard against them. There are, as
thou knowest, fewer true fighting men amongst us than any other class,
and these are needed to man the walls and guard against the foe without;
they may not be spared to watch as spies their comrades--nay, I dare not
even breathe such thoughts, lest their bold hearts should faint and
fail, and they too demand surrender ere evil come upon us from within.
What will be that evil I know not, and therefore cannot guard against
it. I dare not employ these men upon the walls, I dare not bring them
out against the foe, for so bitterly do I mistrust them, I should fear
even then they would betray us. I only know that evil awaits us, and
therefore, my beloved, I do beseech thee, tarry not till it be upon us;