The girl stood in the place whence she had spoken her last words.

Then, as the men-at-arms went shamefacedly to take the Earl by the arm, she suddenly threw herself across the platform, leaped lightly over the barrier, and fell into his arms.
"William, once I would have betrayed you," she said, "but now I love you.

I will die with you--or by the great God I will live to avenge you." "Hush, sweetheart," said William Douglas, touching her brow gently with his lips, and putting her into the arms of an officer of the court whom her uncle had sent to remove her.

"Fear not for me! Death is swift and easy.

I expected nothing else.