"Yet tell me first thy thoughts, my love.

Methought thy gaze was on yon peaceful landscape as I entered, and yet thine eyes were dimmed with tears." "And yet I know not wherefore," she replied, "save the yearnings for peace were stronger, deeper than they should be, and I pictured a cot where love might dwell in yon calm valley, and wished that this fierce strife was o'er." "'Tis in truth no scene for thee, mine own.

I know, I feel thou pinest for freedom, for the fresh, pure, stainless air of the mountain, the valley's holy calm; thine ear is sick with the fell sounds that burst upon it; thine eye must turn in loathing from this fierce strife.

Agnes, mine own Agnes, is it not so?
would it not be happiness, aye, heaven's own bliss, to seek some peaceful home far, far away from this ?" He spoke hurriedly and more passionately than was his wont, but Agnes only answered-- "With thee, Nigel, it were bliss indeed." "With me," he said; "and couldst thou not be happy were I not at thy side?
Listen to me, beloved," and his voice became as solemnly earnest as it had previously been hurried.

"I sought thee, armed I thought with fortitude sufficient for the task; sought thee, to beseech, implore thee to seek safety and peace for a brief while apart from me, till these fearful scenes are passed.