‘How can it be too well,’ she answered boldly, ’if you do not love me better than I do you? and therefore come in to your own home, or I will not believe there is any love in you at all.’

‘That’s a foolish jest,’ said he half angrily.  ’I may not cross the doorstone of this house to-day, Althea; I am forbidden; so hear me say what I came to say.  There is a heavy burden laid on me.  For seven nights together I saw in vision a dark terrible angel, having his wings outspread and holding in his hand a half-drawn glittering sword; he was hovering over this land of England; and it was shown me that he was a messenger of wrath bidden to smite the land with a pestilence.  Now there be those far holier than I who have seen the like vision; but to me came the word that I must go up to London, where this year the plague shall be very sore, and as I go I must warn all men, that they may repent and amend, before this judgment fall on them.’

There was that in his voice and words that made Althea tremble like a leaf; she did not disbelieve in his visions while she heard him; but she strove against the impression, and cried out, when she could find her voice, that this was indeed madness.

‘You have no right,’ she said, ’to desert your natural and lawful duties, and your poor kinswomen too, who are desolate; you will break our hearts, you will ruin yourself, and all for a delusion.’

‘It is no delusion,’ said he; ’your own words, Althea, have confirmed to me the truth of my mission.  For it was said to me, “This shall be a sign to thee, that Margaret, the widow of thy father’s brother, lies sick even to death; and thou shalt see her face no more, nor come under her roof.”  And is it not so? for her face is buried out of our sight,’—­his voice shook,—­’so dost not see, Althea, I may not come in as thou wouldst have me?  Furthermore, I believe my earthly pilgrimage shall come to its end in London; I cannot be sure; but, I think, I return no more alive.  That is why I hungered so for one last look at thee, Althea; also I wished as a dying man to entreat thee not to despise the Lord’s poor people any more.  Now I must go; farewell, dear heart, for ever;’ and with these words he assayed to go; but, as she told me afterwards, she clutched at his coat, passionately protesting he should never go; and when he unlocked her hands, and besought her not to hinder him, she dropt on the ground at his feet, clasped him round the knees, and called on me with all her might.

‘Help, Lucia! help, sister!’ were the words that woke me, and sent me flying with breathless speed to the place whence the call came.  I climbed through the window which I found open, and ran to the spot where I could discern that a struggle was going on; but as I came up Andrew had got himself loosed; and, saying low and thickly to me,—­