depart while thy path is free."

"Yet if they sought safety and peace, if they tire of this warfare," she
replied, disregarding his last words, "wherefore not depart to-day, when
egress was permitted; bethink thee, dearest Nigel, is not this proof thy
fears are ill founded, and that no further ill hangs over us than that
which threatens from without?"

"Alas! no," he said, "it but confirms my suspicions; I obtained this
safe conduct expressly to nullify or confirm them. Had they departed as
I wished, all would have been well; but they linger, and I can feel
their plans are maturing, and therefore they will not depart. Oh,
Agnes," he continued, bitterly, "my very soul is crushed beneath this
weight of unexpressed anxiety and care. Had I but to contend with our
English foe, but to fight a good and honorable fight, to struggle on,
conscious that to the last gasp the brave inmates of this fortress would
follow me, and Edward would find naught on which to wreak his vengeance
but the dead bodies of his foes, my task were easy as 'twere glorious;
but to be conscious of secret brooding evil each morn that rises, each
night that falls, to dread what yet I know not, to see, perchance, my
brave fellows whelmed, chained, through a base treachery impossible to
guard against--oh! Agnes, 'tis this I fear."

"Yet have they not seemed more willing, more active in their assigned
tasks since the execution of their comrade," continued Agnes, with all a
woman's gentle artifice, still seeking to impart hope, even when she
felt that none remained; "may it not be that, in reality, they repent
them of former traitorous designs, and remain behind to aid thee to the
last? Thou sayest that palpable proof of this brooding evil thou canst
not find, then do not heed its voice. Let no fear of me, of my safety,
add its pang; mine own Nigel, indeed I fear them not."

"I know that all I urge will naught avail with thee, beloved," he
answered, somewhat less agitated. "I know thy gentle love is all too
deep, too pure, too strong, to share my fears for thee, and oh, I bless
thee, bless thee for the sweet solace of that faithful love! yet, yet, I
may not listen to thy wishes. All that thou sayest is but confirmation
of the brooding evil; they are active, willing, but to hide their dark
designs. Yet even were there not this evil to dread, no dream of
treachery, still, still, I would send thee hence, sweet one. Famine and
blood, and chains, and death--oh,