And she fell peacefully to sleep, as in her native mountains; free as the wind, and surrounded by her tribe.
Then he knelt by her side, hardly daring to breathe, for fear of waking her.
No fear of awaking her; for she is aweary, and will sleep. They shall come and bear him away from thee, and still thou shalt sleep on and peacefully; he shall bid thee his last farewell, and still thou shalt sleep unheedingly.
Suddenly he started, as a light fell upon the prison walls. He looked upon his sleeping mother, and thought it was her funeral pyre. But as he turned, he saw the light came from the door, upon the threshold of which stood the queen of mercy—his dear Leonora.
She ran to him, and nestled on his breast. Then she cried, “Thou shalt not die, for I have saved thee.”
“Thou hast saved me! how?”
“Nay,” and she hid her face, and pointed to the door.
“And thou—thou comest also.”
“My life—my hope—I must stay here.”
“Stay here!”