"'All has been as you say. But now perfect peace shall be my darling's portion, and I will devote myself to smoothing her path across life's stormy way. My arms shall ever be her refuge in sorrow, and her resting place in joy.'
"'Until life is done; for I love you with a passion that death can only destroy.'
"'Oh, Harry, it is sweet to be loved like this. Do all the men of Ramos love like thee? Methinks there are plenty of maidens in Edos who would choose them a mate from thy world, rather than mine, if such be so.'
"'Well, darling, that there is love on Earth as sweet, and pure, and true as ours I will not deny; but there is love that turns to bitterness and hatred. There are men who betray, deceive, and wrong in the sacred name of Love; there are men who make vows of affection and constancy, only to break them.'
"'Ah! it is even so in Gathma, and many the maid of Edos that hath rued her marriage-vows before she hath well become a wife.'
"'Does my Volinè doubt me--does a single misgiving haunt her heart, now that she has given that heart to me?'
"'Not one; not one! My faith in thee is boundless. I have no thought that thou may'st not share. Now let us return. Already the assembly hath dispersed, and the day draws on. Besides, thou must feel faint and weary, after thy fight.'
"'Never weary in your precious company, darling,' I answered, as we rose and left the room. We strolled across the beautiful grounds together, Volinè resting confidingly on my arm; and, as we walked along, our happiness seemed too great to be true, for not a single care pursued us.
"'Let us pass by Siccoth's arbour yet once again as lovers, Harry--the place where we parted when sorrow overwhelmed us, and hope lay dead.'
"'Ah! Volinè, prospects are brighter now, indeed. See! the dear old place is just the same--to me the sweetest spot in all wide Gathma; for here our vows of love were pledged!'
"And as I spoke, the Palace bells rang out a loud and merry peal, like an omen of good fortune to us.
"'List thee, Harry! My bridal bells! How strange that they should commence whilst we are here! Oh! how their gladsome peals thrill through and through my soul! My wedding day! So soon! Harry, do all the men and women of thy world marry so quickly after betrothal as we?'