"I know all that," said Ellen in a tremulous voice. "My alarm is senseless; and yet this journey fills me with dread." And stretching her arms towards me imploringly: "Schanvoch, my beloved husband, do not depart; I conjure you--do not depart--" "Ellen," I replied sadly, "for the first time in my life I am compelled to answer you with a refusal--" "I beg you, stay near me!" "I would sacrifice everything to you, my duty excepted. The mission with which I am charged by Victoria is important--I promised to fulfil it. I must keep my word." "Well, then, go," answered my wife amid a paroxysm of sobs, "and let my fate come upon me; it is your will!" "Sampso, what fate does she mean?" "Alas! Since this morning my sister has been a prey to gloomy presentiments. She admitted them to be as unaccountable as I considered them myself, and yet she is unable to overcome them. She says she feels certain that she will never see you again--or that some grave peril threatens you during your journey." "Ellen, my beloved wife," I said, clasping her to my heart, "need I tell you that, short as our separation may be, it is always hard for me to be away from you? Would you add to that sorrow, the even greater one of having to leave you in such a desolate state?" "Pardon me," answered Ellen making a strong effort over herself. "You are right; such weakness is unworthy of the wife of a soldier. See; I have stopped weeping. I am calm; your words have reassured me; I am ashamed of my timorous terrors; but in the name of our child who is now asleep in his cradle, do not go away annoyed at me. Let your good-bye caresses be tender as ever; I shall need that; yes, I shall need that in order to recover the courage that I am deficient in to-day." Despite her apparent resignation, my wife seemed to suffer so much under the restraint that she imposed upon herself, that for a moment I thought of requesting Victoria to transfer the commission to Captain Marion, to the end that I might remain at home. One consideration held me back from putting the thought into execution; the time was too short. Seeing that the journey had to be undertaken that same night, Captain Marion could not possibly start on the spot. It would take hours in order to post the captain upon a matter of which he knew absolutely nothing, and which demanded promptness for success. Yielding to my duty, and, I must also say, convinced of the idleness of Ellen's fears, I decided to depart. I clasped her in my arms, and recommending her to the tender care of Sampso, I mounted my horse and rode off.