For a few moments neither could speak. Words seemed all inadequate to express the strong emotions of joy, and of grief, which struggled in their hearts. The Earl of Nithsdale, whose mind was chastened, whose feelings were tempered by long confinement, was the first to recover his self-possession. "Now I see you, my love, I am indeed no longer comfortless! Oh, Winifred! I have passionately longed for this blessed moment! It is five long months since we parted, love;--I have counted the days, the hours;--there has not been one in which I have not required your gentle strength, your trusting patience, to support me or to soothe me. Thanks be to Heaven that has vouchsafed to me once more the joy of beholding you!"--and he lifted her gently from his shoulder, on which her head had sunk.--"And now let me look upon that dear face, and from those pure and holy eyes draw faith, submission, and resignation." He gazed upon her for some moments with a tenderness, which, as he gazed, increased in intensity. "Alas!" he suddenly exclaimed, and flinging his arms upon the table, he hid his face in his hands--"Alas! it is not thus I shall learn to submit cheerfully to my fate! To see you once again!--to hear that voice--to press that beloved form once more to my heart--to feel that if my life were spared, it would be to pass that life with you, for you! oh! this does not reconcile one to what must be----" Then checking himself, he added, in a calmer tone, "But are you well, my love? you have not suffered on your journey? And the children?--you hear of them? I know not how it has fared with them for many, many weeks. Poor innocents!"--And the thought that he should never see them more, made his voice quiver as he spoke. "Oh, they are well, and safe, and happy, in health and freedom, in a more favoured land than this!" He looked up, and a smile illumined his features; but by the dim light of the solitary taper his countenance looked wan, and the last few months had left deep traces of care upon his brow. "You are ill!" she exclaimed in affright; "you must be ill." "Nay," he replied, with gentleness, "my health is unimpaired; and now my Winifred is come, my spirits will soon be cheered." "Alas! I have seen you pale before, and I have seen you sad; but never, never did I see you look thus!"