Exhausted by the vehemence of her emotion, she would have sunk upon the ground, had not Luke caught her in his arms. Pressing her to his bosom, he renewed his passionate protestations. Every argument was unavailing. Sybil appeared inflexible. "You love me as you have ever loved me?" said she, at length. "A thousand-fold more fervently," replied Luke; "put it to the test." "How if I dare to do so? Consider well: I may ask too much." "Name it. If it be not to surrender you, by my mother's body I will obey you." "I would propose an oath." "Ha!" "A solemn, binding oath, that; if you wed me not, you will not wed another. Ha! do you start? Have I appalled you?" "I start? I will take it. Hear me--by----" "Hold!" exclaimed a voice behind them. "Do not forswear yourself." And immediately afterwards the sexton made his appearance. There was a malignant smile upon his countenance. The lovers started at the ominous interruption. "Begone!" cried Luke. "Take not that oath," said Peter, "and I leave you. Remember the counsel I gave you on our way hither." "What counsel did he give you, Luke?" inquired Sybil, eagerly, of her lover. "We spoke of you, fond girl," replied Peter. "I cautioned him against the match. I knew not your sentiments, or I had spared myself the trouble. You have judged wisely. Were he to wed you, ill would come of it. But he _must_ wed another." "MUST!" cried Sybil, her eyes absolutely emitting sparkles of indignation from their night-like depths; and, unsheathing as she spoke the short poniard which she wore at her girdle, she rushed towards Peter, raising her hand to strike. "_Must_ wed another! And dare you counsel this?" "Put up your dagger, fair maiden," said Peter, calmly. "Had I been younger, your eyes might have had more terrors for me than your weapon; as it is, I am proof against both. You would not strike an old man like myself, and of your lover's kin?" Sybil's uplifted hand fell to her side.