last hour on earth he would take upon himself as a dear and sacred duty.

Though she had believed herself surely prepared long since for the worst,
this news fell on her like a thunderbolt. What lay before her seemed so
monstrous, so unexampled, that it was impossible that she ever could look
forward to it firmly and calmly.

For a long time she could not help clinging desperately to her faithful
Betta, and it was only by degrees that she so far recovered herself as to
be able to speak to the bishop, and thank him. He, however, could only
lament his inability to earn her fullest gratitude, for the patriarch's
reply to his complaint of those who promised rescue to the people by the
instrumentality of a heathen abomination--a document on which he had
founded his highest hopes for her--had had a different result from that
which he had expected. The patriarch, to be sure, condemned the
abominable sacrifice, but he did it in a way which lacked the force
necessary to terrify and discourage the misled mob. However, he would
try what effect it might have on the people, and a number of scribes were
at work to make copies of it in the course of the night. These would be
sent to the Senators next morning, posted up in the market-place and
public buildings, and distributed to the people; but he feared all this
would have no effect.

"Then help me to prepare for death," said Paula gloomily. "You are not
a priest of my confession, but no church has a more worthy minister.
If you can absolve me in the name of your Redeemer, mine will pardon me.
We look at Him, it is true, with different eyes, but He is the Saviour of
us both, nevertheless." A contradictory reply struggled for utterance in
the strict Jacobite's mind, but at such a moment he felt he must repress
it; he only answered: