sad again."

"I will be silent, but you must keep your word and be cheerful, so
as not to sadden the poor boy."

"I will."

Anna Sophia kept her word. She gave Charles Henry a bright, cheery
welcome. While she was joking and laughing with the old man, evening
came upon them, and as it cast its shadows about, Charles Henry
became more and more silent and sad.

It was now time to drive home the fold, the sun had set, and Phylax
had collected his little army. The old shepherd arose. "And now, my
children," said he, "take leave of one another. It is the last
sunset you will see together for many a long day. Swear to each
other here, in the presence of God and of his beautiful world, that
you will be true to each other, that your love shall never change."

Charles Henry looked timidly, beseechingly at Anna Sophia, but she
would not encounter his gaze.

"We have said all that we had to say," said she, quietly, "we will
therefore not make our parting harder by repeating it."

"It will make parting much easier to me," cried Charles Henry, "if
you will swear to be true, and always to love me. Though many years
may pass, Anna Sophia, before we meet again, I will never cease to
love you, never cease to think of you."