When he entered the yew-circle, there she stood leaning on the dial, as if, like old Time, she too had gone to sleep there, and was dreaming ancient dreams over again. She did not move at the first sounds of his approach; and when at length, as he stood silent by her side, she lifted her head, but without looking at him, he saw the traces of tears on her cheeks. The heart of the youth smote him. 'Weeping, Dorothy?' he said. 'Yes,' she answered simply. 'I trust I am not the cause of your trouble, Dorothy?' 'You!' returned the girl quickly, and the colour rushed to her pale cheeks. 'No, indeed. How should you trouble me? My mother is ill.' Considering his age, Richard was not much given to vanity, and it was something better that prevented him from feeling pleased at being thus exonerated: she looked so sweet and sad that the love which new interests had placed in abeyance returned in full tide. Even when a child, he had scarcely ever seen her in tears; it was to him a new aspect of her being. 'Dear Dorothy!' he said, 'I am very much grieved to learn this of your beautiful mother.' 'She IS beautiful,' responded the girl, and her voice was softer than he had ever heard it before; 'but she will die, and I shall be left alone.' 'No, Dorothy! that you shall never be,' exclaimed Richard, with a confidence bordering on presumption. 'Master Herbert is with her now,' resumed Dorothy, heedless of his words. 'You do not mean her life is even now in danger?' said Richard, in a tone of sudden awe. 'I hope not, but, indeed, I cannot tell. I left master Herbert comforting her with the assurance that she was taken away from the evil to come. "And I trust, madam," the dear old man went on to say, "that my departure will not long be delayed, for darkness will cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." Those were his very words.' 'Nay, nay!' said Richard, hastily; 'the good man is deceived; the people that sit in darkness shall see a great light.' The girl looked at him with strange interrogation. 'Do not be angry, sweet Dorothy,' Richard went on. 'Old men may mistake as well as youths. As for the realm of England, the sun of righteousness will speedily arise thereon, for the dawn draws nigh; and master Herbert may be just as far deceived concerning your mother's condition, for she has been but sickly for a long time, and yet has survived many winters.' Dorothy looked at him still, and was silent. At length she spoke, and her words came slowly and with weight. 'And what prophet's mantle, if I may make so bold, has fallen upon Richard Heywood, that the word in his mouth should outweigh that of an aged servant of the church? Can it be that the great light of which he speaks is Richard Heywood himself?'