But not to speak of my self have I sent for thee.

Edith, again and again, solemnly and sincerely, I pray thee to obey the wish of my lord the King.
And now, while yet in all the bloom of thought, as of youth, while thou hast no memory save the child's, enter on the Realm of Peace." "I cannot, I dare not, I cannot--ah, ask me not," said poor Edith, covering her face with her hands.
Those hands the Queen gently withdrew; and looking steadfastly in the changeful and half-averted face, she said mournfully, "Is it so, my godchild?
and is thy heart set on the hopes of earth--thy dreams on the love of man ?" "Nay," answered Edith, equivocating; "but I have promised not to take the veil." "Promised to Hilda ?" "Hilda," exclaimed Edith readily, "would never consent to it.

Thou knowest her strong nature, her distaste to--to----" "The laws of our holy Church--I do; and for that reason it is, mainly, that I join with the King in seeking to abstract thee from her influence.
But it is not Hilda that thou hast promised ?" Edith hung her head.
"Is it to woman or to man ?" Before Edith could answer the door from the ante-room opened gently, but without the usual ceremony, and Harold entered.

His quick quiet eye embraced both forms, and curbed Edith's young impulse, which made her start from her seat, and advance joyously towards him as a protector.
"Fair day to thee, my sister," said the Earl, advancing; "and pardon, if I break thus rudely on thy leisure; for few are the moments when beggar and Benedictine leave thee free to receive thy brother." "Dost thou reproach me, Harold ?" "No, Heaven forfend!" replied the Earl, cordially, and with a look at once of pity and admiration; "for thou art one of the few, in this court of simulators, sincere and true; and it pleases thee to serve the Divine Power in thy way, as it pleases me to serve Him in mine." "Thine, Harold ?" said the Queen, shaking her head, but with a look of some human pride and fondness in her fair face.
"Mine; as I learned it from thee when I was thy pupil, Edith; when to those studies in which thou didst precede me, thou first didst lure me from sport and pastime; and from thee I learned to glow over the deeds of Greek and Roman, and say, 'They lived and died as men; like them may I live and die!'" "Oh, true--too true!" said the Queen, with a sigh; "and I am to blame grievously that I did so pervert to earth a mind that might otherwise have learned holier examples;--nay, smile not with that haughty lip, my brother; for believe me--yea, believe me--there is more true valour in the life of one patient martyr than in the victories of Caesar, or even the defeat of Brutus." "It may be so," replied the Earl, "but out of the same oak we carve the spear and the cross; and those not worthy to hold the one, may yet not guiltily wield the other.

Each to his path of life--and mine is chosen." Then, changing his voice, with some abruptness, he said, "But what hast thou been saying to thy fair godchild, that her cheek is pale, and her eyelids seem so heavy?
Edith, Edith, my sister, beware how thou shapest the lot of the martyr without the peace of the saint.