"That you for ever drop your present name and assume another; that you never breathe to mortal ear the place of your birth, nor give clew to your country."
"I gladly promise this--for already I had resolved on it, Elpsy. I have _one_ great motive for doing so. But what can be yours?"
"Then take the gold for thy grandsire's support."
"Not a word of objection. I have two favours to ask of thee."
"Name them," said he, with an eagerness that evinced a desire to serve her.
"Promise that you will hold no speech with any one before thy departure."
"I do," he said, after an instant's hesitation.
"Swear that thou wilt never set foot on this isle again."
"Nay, I will not swear it," he said, with determination.
"Wilt thou obey me? Swear it!" she cried, in a tone of fierce command.
"Who art thou that I should yield thee obedience, woman? I yield obedience to none save my Maker!"
"Wilt thou swear?" she asked, with more composure.
The resolute attitude he so unexpectedly assumed disconcerted her for an instant. At length she said,
"Wilt thou promise never to return here under thy own, that is--thy present name?"
"Yes, most freely. Now farewell, Elpsy; I must hasten to Castle More."
"You go not to Castle More!" she exclaimed, with singular emphasis.
"I am intrusted with a message, and must deliver it."
"Nay, I must myself place it in Lord Robert's hands, in person."
"Give it me, boy! I will bear it safely to its destination."
"Go to Castle More, and you sail not on the morrow," she said, in a determined tone, replacing the gold in her belt.
He hesitated. After a brief struggle between his duty to Grace Fitzgerald and her cousin, and his own wishes, he at length said, falteringly,
He turned the billet, with its lock of hair, over and over, gazed on it long and fondly on every side, and, from his reluctance to resign the precious treasure, there appeared to have arisen a new bar to Elpsy's purpose. At length he made a compromise with his feelings by slipping off the braid of hair, and hastily concealing it in his bosom, while he gave her the unsecured packet.
"Place it only in the hands of Robert of Lester, Elpsy."
"It will take many a harder buffet than that thou gavest me to make me ill. He shall have it ere thou art half a league on thy return."