"Forgive me," I said gently. "I would not have asked thee, had I known. He is a gentleman, brave and true, and will make thee a kind and upright husband. Thou wilt be happy in the days to come, together. I trust thou wilt believe me, when I say that for thee I wish all good blessings. May thy future pathway be strewn with flowers, and may not a shadow fall athwart it to darken its happiness. Sometimes when thou art happy, leaning upon the strong arm of him whom thou dost love, wilt thou not give one thought to one who once knew and loved thee? And now--good-by!" Bending my knee, I pressed that little white hand to my lips, and taking her arm I walked with her to the door and opened it--there, pacing the hall, was Bobby. [Illustration: "I Pressed that Little White Hand to My Lips"] He turned when he saw me, and running forward, caught my hand. "Thomas!" he cried, "I never thought to see thee alive again." I returned his cordial grasp. "Bobby," I said, "take Lady Margaret home, and then come back again, for I have something to say to thee. Care for her tenderly," I said to him, as with the weeping lady upon his arm he turned to go. "Thou hast won the loveliest and fairest woman that I have ever known. It is a priceless jewel, Bobby--guard it well. May God watch over both of you now and in the days to come!" And turning I opened the door of my cell, and passing inside, closed it behind me. CHAPTER XIII I SAIL FOR VIRGINIA It was near midnight when my door opened again. I was still in the chair by the table, where I had seated myself when I had left them outside, staring vacantly at the place opposite, where she had sat so lately. Only a few brief minutes before her dress had pressed yonder chair; her elbow had touched the table; it was still wet with her tears. "Bobby," I said, arising as he entered, "I need not say that I am glad to see thee; it seems like ages since we roamed London together." He seated himself opposite and looked at me. I saw no change in him since we had been together twenty-two months before, save perhaps a few wrinkles about his forehead, otherwise he was still the same frank, sincere friend. "Thou hast changed," he said at length. "I know it," I replied, "but thou hast heard of my adventures." "Yes," he answered, with a ringing laugh. "The Lady Margaret told me of them. I marvel not that the Queen did not believe thee--it is almost beyond belief." "Bobby," I said, "often have I thought of thee in the long nights and wished to see thy face. I had not thought sometimes to see it again." He looked up at me, his eyes moist. "I have searched far and wide for thee, everywhere that I could think of, but it was as though thou hadst been caught up in the clouds; nowhere could I find a trace of thy whereabouts. I had almost given up hope."