"Not one moment longer than I am compelled to stay," he replied. "If my father really wants to see me on election affairs I may be absent two days; trust me, Leone; the first moment I am free I shall return;" and drawing her beautiful face down to his own the young husband kissed it with passionate devotion, little dreaming of what lay before him. "Only half an hour," said Leone. "Oh, Lance, let me spend it with you. I will order your portmanteau to be packed; my dear, do not let me leave you for one moment." She drew a little stool and sat down at his feet. Lord Chandos laughed. "One would think we were lovers still." She looked at him with that wonderful expression of face, so earnest, so intent, so lofty. "So we are," she said; "we will be lovers until we die; shall we not, Lance?" "I hope so; but we shall be unlike most married people, Leone, if we do that," he replied. "I will not believe you," she answered. "You laugh, sometimes, Lance, at love; but I am sure if I were your wife for fifty years you would never tire of me or love me less." "I never wish to do so," he replied. "You never will," said Leone, "my faith is as strong as my love, and you have it all. I could rather believe now that the heavens would fall over my head than you could ever for one moment forget me." "I shall never forget you, sweet," he said; "this is the first time we have ever been parted since we have been married; you must not be sad and lonely, Leone." "I shall spend all my time in thinking of your return," she said. "Lance, it will comfort me all the time you are away; you will say some of those beautiful words I love to hear." He took both her white hands in his. "My darling," he said, "I love you with all my heart, and I will be true to you until death." The sweetness of the words seemed to content her for a time; she laid her face on his hands for some minutes in wistful silence. "Leone," said the rich, cheerful voice of the young earl, "I have an idea that I will bring you good news from home. My father would not have sent for me unless he wanted me, and I shall make a bargain with him. If he wants me to do anything, I shall consent only on condition that I take you to Cawdor." They talked of it for some minutes; then Leone rose and busied herself for some time in helping him--her face was pale and her hands trembled. When the moment came for him to say good-bye he held her in his arms. "Once again," she whispered. And he answered: "My darling wife, I love you, and will be true to you until death." And those were the last words that for some time she heard him speak. CHAPTER XV. AN EXCITING INTERVIEW. Lady Lanswell looked somewhat startled when her son entered the room. During those few months of his married life he had altered much; he looked taller and stronger; the handsome face was covered with a golden beard and mustache; he looked quite three years older than before his marriage.