"Sir Guy de Lusignan," she said, "I choose thee as my lord, and as Lord of the land of Jerusalem; for—" and a slight quiver came into the triumphant, ringing voice—"whom God hath joined together, let not man put asunder!" Then I looked up, and saw on my Guy’s head the crown of the world, and in Sybil’s dear eyes the tender, passionate love-light which she had locked out of them for months for love’s own sake, and I knew her at last for the queen of women that she is. And then——I heard somebody speak my name, and felt Lady Irene’s arms close round me, and darkness came upon me, and I knew no more. When I came to myself, I was lying in my own old chamber in the Palace, and beside me were old Marguerite fanning me with a handkerchief, and Lady Judith bending over me. "Helena, darling,—all is well!" she said. "Is all well?" I said, sadly, when I could speak. "It is well with Guy, and therefore all else matters little. But I wonder if I shall ever be forgiven?" "By whom?" asked Lady Judith. "God and Sybil," I answered in a low voice. "Ask them both," she said softly. "Sybil is coming to thee, as soon as ever the banquet is over. And there is no need to wait to ask God." "Did you guess, holy Mother, how it would end?" "No, Helena," she answered with a smile. "I knew." "All along?" "Yes, from the first." I lay still and thought. "Dost thou marvel why I did not tell thee, dear, and perhaps think it cruel? Ask Sybil why she made me her sole confidante. I think thou wilt be satisfied when thou hast heard her reason. But though I did not guess Sybil’s purpose,—" and she turned with a smile to Marguerite,—"here, I fancy, is one who did." "Ay, very soon," said Margot quietly: "but not quite at first, Lady." "Thou wicked old Marguerite!" cried I. "And never to tell me!" "Suppose I had been mistaken," she replied. "Would my Damoiselle have thanked me for telling her then?" I felt quite sufficiently restored to go down to the bower, though not able to bear the banquet. So Lady Judith and I went down. She told me all that had taken place after I fainted: how Messire de Montluc and Lady Irene had taken care of me; that the Patriarch had immediately bestowed the nuptial benediction upon Sybil and Guy, and had then anointed the King—(the King!)—that the Knights Templars had escorted the King and Queen to the banquet; and that after the banquet, homage was to be done by all the nobles. Guy and Sybil, therefore, were likely to be detained late. Suddenly something climbed up on the settle, and I felt myself seized round the neck, and tumultuously caressed. "Tantine! Tantine!—Come—good! Baba and Tantine—_both_ come. Good!—Oh, good!" Of course I knew who that was, and alternated between returning the warm kisses, and entreating Agnes not to murder me by suffocation. Then came a much calmer kiss on my brow, and I looked up at Eschine.