'Oh! there are no sacrifices which we would not gladly make. What can Benjamin require that we should not gladly do for him? Nay, he is Robin's cousin, and your nephew, and Sir Christopher's grandson. He will, if need be, join us in making these sacrifices.' 'I will,' said Benjamin--again, why did he laugh?--'I will join you in making one sacrifice at least, with a willing heart.' 'I will tell her to-morrow,' said Madam. 'No, I cannot tell her to-night. Let us first rest. Go, Sir; leave us to our sorrow. It may be that we may yet think the sacrifice too great even for the lives and the safety of those we love. Go, Sir, for to-night, and return to-morrow.' * * * * * 'Surely, Child,' said Madam presently, when he was gone, and we were alone, 'we are the most unhappy women in the world.' 'Nay,' I replied. 'There have been other women before us who have been ruined and widowed by civil wars and rebellions. If it be any comfort to think that others have suffered like ourselves, then we may comfort ourselves. But the thought brings no consolation to me.' 'Hagar,' said Madam, 'was a miserable woman because she was cast out by the man she loved, even the father of her son; but she saved her son. Rachel was unhappy until the Lord gave her a son. Jephthah's daughter was unhappy--my dear, there is no case except hers which may be compared with ours--and Jephthah's daughter was happy in one circumstance: that she was permitted to die. Ah! happy girl, she died! That was all her sacrifice--to die for the sake of her father! But what is ours?' So she spoke in riddles or dark sayings, of which I understood nothing. Nevertheless, before lying down, I did solemnly and, in her presence and hearing, aloud, upon my knees, offer unto Almighty God myself--my very life--if so that Robin could be saved. And then, with lighter heart than I had known for long, I lay down and slept. * * * * * At midnight, or thereabouts, Madam woke me up. 'Child,' she said, 'I cannot sleep. Tell me truly: is there nothing that thou wouldest refuse for Robin's sake?' 'Nothing, verily! Ah, Madam, can you doubt it?' 'Even if it were a sacrifice of which he would not approve?' 'Believe me, Madam, there is nothing that I would not do for Robin's safety.' 'Child, if we were living in the days of persecution wouldest thou hear the Mass and adopt the Catholic religion to save thy lover's life?' 'Oh, Madam, the Lord will never try us above our strength!' 'Sleep, my child, sleep; and pray that, as thy temptation, so may be thy strength!' CHAPTER XXIX. ON WHAT CONDITIONS?