Part 86 (1/2)

Brooke drew a long breath, looked at Talbot, and then looked away.

”Shall we, Brooke?” asked Talbot.

”Shall we what?” said Brooke, harshly.

”Shall we ever meet again?”

”How do I know?” said Brooke, snappishly.

”And yet you gave your life for me,” said Talbot, pensively.

”I didn't,” said Brooke. ”It was you that gave your life for me.”

”The offer was made,” said Talbot, mournfully, ”but it wasn't accepted. I wish now that the offer had been accepted.”

Brooke raised his head and looked at her with his pale, haggard face, whereon was still the impression of that great agony through which he had so lately pa.s.sed. He looked at her with all his unspeakable love in his earnest, yearning gaze.

”Do you really wish that, Talbot?”

”I do,” said she, sadly.

”Oh, my darling!” cried Brooke--”my own love, and my only love! What shall I do? Help me to decide.”

He caught her in his arms and held her pressed convulsively to his heart, while Talbot laid her head on his shoulder and wept.

At length they rose to go.

Brooke was conscious of a sense of profound relief as he went out of the castle and away from Dolores.

On reaching the gate, Brooke explained to the guard that he and the lady were going out for a little walk.

The guard suggested that there might be danger.

Brooke said that he was not going far away, and that he would be back. In this he was not deceiving them, for he himself thought that he would be coming back again. He had a vague idea of keeping Talbot in the tower, and conveying her food, etc., from the castle, as he had done once before.

He now pa.s.sed through the gates, accompanied by Talbot. The course which he took was the same that he had taken on the occasion of his first visit to the Carlists in his disguise of priest. After walking for some distance they descended into the chasm, and at length reached the bottom. By this time it was dusk, and twilight was coming on rapidly.

They then began the ascent, and reached the tower without any difficulty.

Here they paused to take breath.

But no sooner had they stood still than they were aware of a noise without. It was a noise rather distant, yet well defined, and sounded as if a mult.i.tude were approaching the place.

”Some one's coming,” said Talbot.

”Yes,” said Brooke; ”we must go back.”

They hurried back. But as they stood at the opening they heard something which once more startled them.