"'Well, darling, that there is love on Earth as sweet, and pure, and true as ours I will not deny; but there is love that turns to bitterness and hatred. There are men who betray, deceive, and wrong in the sacred name of Love; there are men who make vows of affection and constancy, only to break them.' "'Ah! it is even so in Gathma, and many the maid of Edos that hath rued her marriage-vows before she hath well become a wife.' "'Does my Volinè doubt me--does a single misgiving haunt her heart, now that she has given that heart to me?' "'Not one; not one! My faith in thee is boundless. I have no thought that thou may'st not share. Now let us return. Already the assembly hath dispersed, and the day draws on. Besides, thou must feel faint and weary, after thy fight.' "'Never weary in your precious company, darling,' I answered, as we rose and left the room. We strolled across the beautiful grounds together, Volinè resting confidingly on my arm; and, as we walked along, our happiness seemed too great to be true, for not a single care pursued us. "'Let us pass by Siccoth's arbour yet once again as lovers, Harry--the place where we parted when sorrow overwhelmed us, and hope lay dead.' "'Ah! Volinè, prospects are brighter now, indeed. See! the dear old place is just the same--to me the sweetest spot in all wide Gathma; for here our vows of love were pledged!' "And as I spoke, the Palace bells rang out a loud and merry peal, like an omen of good fortune to us. "'List thee, Harry! My bridal bells! How strange that they should commence whilst we are here! Oh! how their gladsome peals thrill through and through my soul! My wedding day! So soon! Harry, do all the men and women of thy world marry so quickly after betrothal as we?' "'Not all, my darling, not all. Some tarry months, years; and some even so long that they do not wed at all. But if any man could love as I love, or had such a beautiful being for the object of his affections, the time would be no longer than with us--especially when Fate smiles so sweetly upon my suit as now,' I answered, kissing her upturned face. "'Indeed, thou art a consummate flatterer! And yet doth it not seem unmaidenly for me to yield so quickly and so readily to thy words of love?' "'Ah! no, dear one, I prize you all the more for not delaying my happiness. Besides, it seems years and years since we first met, so much having happened in the interval between then and now.' "'Methinks thou hast made good use of thy time, if it hath been short!' she answered, with an artless, bewitching smile. "'But, Volinè, what is it that has drawn you to me? Surely there are men in Gathma, in Edos, more handsome than I, who would sell their souls for your smiles and favour?'