“And this world of incomparable unshadowed loveliness awaits me,” he said, the superstition of the age mingling for the moment with thoughts which seemed to mark him a century beyond his compeers; “purchased by that single moment of suffering called death.  It is mine, my beloved, and shall be thine; and oh, when we meet there, how trivial will seem the dark woes and boding cares of earth!  I have told thee the vision of my vigil, Agnes, my beloved; again I have seen that blessed spirit, aye, and there was no more sadness on his pale brow, naught, naught of earth—­spiritualized, etherealized.  He hovered over my sleep, and with a smile beckoned me to the glorious world he inhabits; he seemed to call me, to await me, and then the shrouding clouds on which he lay closed thicker and thicker round him, till naught but his celestial features beamed on me.  Agnes, dearest, best, think of me thus, as blessed eternally, unchangeably, as awaiting thee to share that blessedness, not as one lost to thee, beloved; and peace, aye, joy e’en yet shall smile for thee.”

“Nigel, Nigel, are there such things for the desolate, the lone?” murmured Agnes, raising her pale brow and looking despairingly in his face.  “Oh, I will think on thee, picture thee in thy thrice-glorified home, but it will be with all of mortal clinging to me still, and the wild yearnings to come to thee will banish all of peace.  Speak not such words to thy poor weak Agnes, my beloved.  I will struggle on to bear thy message to my sovereign; there lies my path when thou art gone, darkness envelops it when that goal is gained—­I have no future now, save that which gives me back to thee.”

He could not answer, and then again there was silence, broken only by the low voice of prayer.  They knelt together on the cold stones, he raised her cold hands with his in supplication; he prayed for mercy, pardon for himself, for comfort, strength for her; he prayed for his country and her king, her chained and sorrowing sons, and the soft, liquid star of morning, gloaming forth through heavy masses of murky clouds directly on them as they knelt, appeared an angel’s answer.  The dawn broke; bluer and bluer became the small and heavily-barred casement, clearer and clearer grew the damp walls of the dungeons, and morning, in its sunshine and gladness, laughed along the earth.  Closer and closer did Agnes cling to that noble heart, but she spoke no word.  “He tarries long—­merciful heaven, grant he be not detained too late!” she heard her husband murmur, as to himself, as time waned and Gloucester came not, and she guessed his thoughts.

“I care not,” she answered, in a voice so hollow he shuddered; “I will go with thee, even to the scaffold.”