“Oh, Percy! What would life be without your dear companionship, without your blessed love?”
“My love, darling, you will always possess. No power on earth can take it from you. It is yours now and forevermore.”
“And your dear self with it, sweet love.”
“Heaven send it may be so.”
“Amen! and amen!”
After this they sat for a time in silence, their thoughts too deep for words. Her head was pillowed on his bosom, and his strong arm encircled her.
What need was there of further speech? The silence was eloquent; and the crashing thunder, when it fell, was as grand music in their ears.
By and by the patter of the rain upon the roof grew less; but, as the rain held up, the lightning seemed to come more frequently and with increased brilliancy. Oh, how dark it was when the fire of heaven had gone out!
Several minutes had passed thus after the rain had commenced to slacken, and the furious blast that had accompanied the first flood had died away, when our hero was startled and his heart caused to bound suddenly by the unmistakable sound of a footfall without. It was the fall of a human foot upon the surface of rock in front of the chapel!
“Hush!” he whispered, as he felt his companion start and nestle more closely to him.