Audrey

"I am to die, am I not?" she asked, with her gaze upon him.

"That is as God wills, Audrey," he answered.

"I am not afraid to die."

"You have no need," he said, and going out of the room and down the

stairs, made Stagg pour for him a glass of aqua vitæ.

Audrey closed her eyes, and when she opened them again there seemed to be

many persons in the room. One was bending over her whom at first she

thought was Molly, but soon she saw more clearly, and smiled at the pale

and sorrowful face. The lady bent lower yet, and kissed her on the

forehead. "Audrey," she said, and Audrey looking up at her answered,

"Evelyn."

When the dawn came glimmering in the windows, when the mist was cold and

the birds were faintly heard, they raised her upon her pillows, and wiped

the death dew from her forehead. "Audrey, Audrey, Audrey!" cried Haward,

and caught at her hands.

She looked at him with a faint and doubtful smile, remembering nothing of

that hour in the room below, of those minutes in the moonlit garden.

"Gather the rosebuds while ye may," she said; and then, "The house is

large. Good giant, eat me not!"

The man upon his knees beside her uttered a cry, and began to speak to

her, thickly, rapidly, words of agony, entreaty, and love. To-morrow and

for all life habit would resume its sway, and lost love, remorse, and vain

regrets put on a mask that was cold and fine and able to deceive. To-night

there spoke the awakened heart. With her hands cold in his, with his

agonized gaze upon the face from which the light was slowly passing, he

poured forth his passion and his anguish, and she listened not. They

moistened her lips, and one opened wide the window that gave upon the

east. "It was all a dream," she said; and again, "All a dream." A little

later, while the sky flushed slowly and the light of the candles grew

pale, she began suddenly, and in a stronger voice, to speak as Arpasia:-"'If it be happiness, alas! to die,

To lie forgotten in the silent grave'"-"Forgotten!" cried Haward. "Audrey, Audrey, Audrey! Go not from me! Oh, love, love, stay awhile!"

"The mountains," said Audrey clearly. "The sun upon them and the lifting

mist."

"The mountains!" he cried. "Ay, we will go to them, Audrey, we will go

together! Why, you are stronger, sweetheart! There is strength in your

voice and your hands, and a light in your eyes. Oh, if you will live,

Audrey, I will make you happy! You shall take me to the mountains--we will

go together, you and I! Audrey, Audrey"-But Audrey was gone already.