'Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife?' asked the clergyman in quavering, uncertain tones. He was weak and old, in terror of Sir Claudius, and more than half persuaded that he had misunderstood me. 'Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her as long as ye both shall live?' The solemn question fell solemnly from the old man's lips, his eyes sought the bridegroom's face with great anxiety. 'I will!' cried Sir Claudius in loud, exultant tones. He looked round smilingly. It was his hour of triumph. 'Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey and serve him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him as long as ye both shall live?' 'No,' I said, but the monosyllable was so low that none heard it. None of those around me I mean. There is One to whom a broken heart appeals more strongly than aught else. 'Say "I will,"' prompted the clergyman. 'No,' I said again more loudly, but again my utterance failed to reach the aged ears bent to listen. 'Say "I will,"' repeated the clergyman. 'I cannot,' I almost shrieked now in my agony and fear. 'You are a wicked, lying girl,' hissed the bridegroom in my ear. 'You promised to marry me.' 'But you deceived me,' ventured I. 'My dear,' said the clergyman gravely, 'try to collect yourself. Did you not come here into this chapel to be wedded to this man?' 'Yes--but----' I thought of the man I loved, whose safety I imagined I had purchased by that daring promise to Sir Claudius, and, knowing from what Saul had said, that I had been deceived, was altogether overwhelmed with grief and misery. A mist gathered around me, the church grew dark; releasing my hand from the arm that held it, I stretched it towards the old clergyman, and then fell half-unconscious at his feet. Instantly there was a tremendous noise in the chapel. Swords clashed, men shouted and fought wildly. Some one trod upon my dress almost upon me, and was hurled off by strong arms, which the next instant picked me up and placed me out of danger. I heard Sir Claudius, in harsh but abject accents, begging for mercy, and, looking down--for I had been lifted into the gallery of the chapel--saw him on his knees before Sir Hubert Blair, who, brave and handsome, stood over him with his drawn sword. 'Are you a man?' asked my beloved with scorn. But, the next moment, before he could strike at him, if that was in his mind, a dozen sturdy men attacked Sir Hubert, and the fighting became so terrible that, in fear and horror, I again lost consciousness. CHAPTER XIX Escaping from the Enemy 'Are we quite safe now, Betsy?'