"Dearest, best! thou must not dream of life, of happiness with me.

I may not mock thee with such blessed, but, alas! delusive hopes; my doom hath gone forth, revealed when I knew it not, confirmed by that visioned seer but few short weeks ago.

Agnes, my noble Agnes, wherefore shouldst thou wed with death?
I know that I must die!" The solemn earnestness of his words chased the still lingering glow from the lips and cheek of the maiden, and a cold shiver passed through her frame, but still she clung to him, and said-- "It matters not; my maiden love, my maiden troth is pledged to thee--in life or in death I am thine alone.

I will not leave thee," she said, firmly and calmly.

"Nigel, if it be indeed as thou sayest, that affliction, and--and all thou hast spoken, must befall thee, the more need is there for the sustaining and the soothing comfort of a woman's love.