As she spake thus, I had gently drawn her to wards the place whereat I had entered, to assure her of my safety and the means of conveying her thence; by showing her the ladder of cord hanging upon the wall, for I doubted not that it would be still there. But, lo! it was now nowhere to be seen, and notwithstanding I searched all around I looked for it in vain. I was much dismayed hereat, albeit I sought, as I best might, to hide my loss from the gentle Lady Bride; yet did she quickly note the cause of my perplexity, and said, in a voice of tender sorrow, that she deemed my sanguine hopes had trusted unto unequal means of escape, and that now my danger was all too certain. "Dearest lady," replied I, hereupon greatly encouraged by the anxiety which she had shown for me, "dearest lady, fear not; but even should I be taken in this adventure, in what better cause than yours can I lay down my life? This is unto me an hour of deepest interest, as was that in the Canons' chamber at Windsor, and I will again use all sincerity in my speech, and say, Lady Bride, how fervently I love you. Believe me, if the lightning-flashes, now darting from yonder cloud, could shine into my breast, you would behold in it a heart, which, from the first time I heard your blessed name, hath never ceased to beat for you with the liveliest devotion; and whilst life is given unto it, I swear by my part in the bliss of eternity that it shall beat for no other!"

"I can well think thee faithful, Richard," responded the Lady Bride, "yet say it not unto me, I pray thee, since it is now all unmeet for me to speak of earthly love; albeit if mortal excellence

could win mine heart, thy generous passion for me would assuredly do it. But this may not be, therefore take back thy promise, and give thy vows unto those who live for this world, since I am all devoted unto another."

There was in her demeanour, as it seemed, a settled purpose which well attested her sincerity; yet, as I sighed despondingly at her words, methought she appeared touched by my sorrow, although I dare not say that she shared it: like as a pitying angel mourneth over the weakness of humanity, even whilst his heavenly nature keepeth it from his own breast. The noble Bride did moreover give farther proof of her benevolence towards me, by drawing from her hand a ring with a rich gem, bearing for its impress the sign of the holy cross; and, giving it unto me, bade me, with consoling speech, to wear it, not for her sake, but for the sake of him whose sign was graven upon it. I received her gift with much rapture, and I trow never did I so deeply lament my narrow fortune, as I did in bethinking me that I had nought to give unto her in return. Howbeit, I remembered that in my bosom I had a little book of offices, partly written and illumined by mine own hand, fairly bound in red velvet 'broidered with gold, and this I hastily took forth, and besought the Lady Bride to receive the same at my hands, as a pledge that, for her sake, I did abjure all thought of wedlock; adding that I would ever wear her ring when I should be seen of woman, that so I might be known of all as a betrothed

one.

"Betrothed, indeed!" responded the royal noVOL. II.--I

vice," not unto me, but unto God as I well trust; for his am I, and the best wish of my heart for thee is that thou wert the same!"

She could say no more, for now divers lights, beside those which flashed from the stormy skies, came forth from all parts of the building and filled the garden, whilst loud and angry voices on every side declared that a stranger had entered its holy precincts; the which at once showed unto me that discovery had taken place, albeit I knew not how, and that escape was now impossible. Howbeit I manned myself to meet them as I best might; but the Lady Bride, overcome at once by fear for my safety, the increased violence of the storm, and the pious conflicts within her own breast, sank down and swooned upon mine arm: whilst I supported her with what tenderness I could, taking off my coarse pilgrim's mantle and wrapping it around her. Those whose coming had been thus tumultuqusly made known unto us, soon drew near, being a band of divers servitors of the abbey, hastily summoned together by the Lord Abbot on the tidings which he had received; with whom they proceeded unto the garden, to put forth, or, peradventure, to secure for vengeance, the sacrilegious intruder who had violated the hallowed sanctuary.

"Holy St. Mary !" exclaimed the Lord Abbot as he approached the spot whereon the Lady Bride and myself were standing, and the light of the torches, with which the various servitors pressed forward, flashed upon us," Blessed St. Mary! what do I behold?-the Lady Bride! Now, may God so speed us, as we would have.

held this a foul slander, had we not seen with our own eyes the daughter of a king and sister of a queen consorting with a night-ruffian! one of whom our Lord well speaketh in the Gospel, saying Qui non intrat per ostium in ovile ovium, sed ascendit aliunde, ille fur est, et latro;' he who entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Seize him, therefore, my children, let him not escape; for if justice be maintained in England, it must fall upon such as profane the houses of God."

The servitors whom he brought with him were not slow to execute his commands with much contumely and reviling, so that it was almost in vain for me to attempt to speak, whilst many hands at once grasped my garments, and restrained my limbs. Nevertheless the Lady Bride still clung unto me senseless, whereupon I shook myself free from the servitors, and bearing her unto the Abbot, resigned her unto him; bidding him work his will with me, so that she were instantly conveyed unto a fitting shelter. This he straightway commanded to be done, and so were we again parted; yet natheless I felt me glad, even in that troublous hour, when I found that the swooning of the Lady Bride brought upon my head all the fault which I feared should have fallen upon hers. For now the Abbot, again taking up the word, addressed me with "monster of impiety! love of godliness I well deem thou hast none, yet do I marvel that thou hast lost all sense of fear; for though thou mightest brave the power of man, yet how didst thou dare, presumptuous as even

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thou art, to defy the wrath of heaven which cometh forth against thee from the skies? Wast thou not afraid to attempt beguiling the daughter of a sovereign, or to withdraw from her holy 'spousals the innocent lamb deyoted unto the cloister? and that too, even in the storm which spake full loudly how the anger of God was already kindled against thee."

His tone was not less solemn than reproachful, and, deeming me guilty, I have since thought that he might well speak thus, and point for confirmation of his words unto the skies, which were still ever and anon bright with the lightning. Then, noting the heavy torrents of rain which were falling, he stopped mine attempted reply, saying, "And even the waters that now deluge the earth seem, with fitting emblem, to reproach thy crime, as if the skies wept that such daring evil should stain the beauty of God's lower world.-But the tempest rages fiercely; lead on the prisoner, my children, and let us go hence."

They who had me in charge, then quickly and rudely hurried me from the garden into the broad abbey-hall, where a fire was blazing, and many persons were assembled full curious to know more of that night's adventure. Of this company there was one whom I had in nowise thought to behold, being none other than the rustic pilgrim from the Tabard hostel. I soon found that it was he who had betrayed me unto the abbot: for he recounted how it had been told at the inn, that the Lady Bride was presently living at Bermondsey until her consecration at Easter; how he had marked my sudden starting