“Amine, dearest Amine; it is my love, my ardent love alone, which makes me pause:  for, O Amine, what pleasure should I feel if we were this hour united!  I hardly know what to say, or what to do.  I could not withhold my secret from you if you were my wife, nor will I wed you till you know it.  Well, Amine, I will cast my all upon the die.  You shall know this secret, learn what a doomed wretch I am, though from no fault of mine, and then you yourself shall decide.  But remember, my oath is registered in heaven, and I must not be dissuaded from it; keep that in mind, and hear my tale,—­then if you choose to wed with one whose prospects are so bitter, be it so,—­a short-lived happiness will then be mine, but for you, Amine—­”

“At once the secret, Philip,” cried Amine, impatiently.

Philip then entered into a detail of what our readers are acquainted with.  Amine listened in silence; not a change of feature was to be observed in her countenance during the narrative.  Philip wound up with stating the oath which he had taken.  “I have done,” said Philip, mournfully.

“’Tis a strange story, Philip,” replied Amine:  “and now hear me;—­but give me first that relic,—­I wish to look upon it.  And can there be such virtue—­I had nigh said, such mischief—­in this little thing?  Strange; forgive me, Philip,—­but I’ve still my doubts upon this tale of Eblis.  You know I am not yet strong in the new belief which you and the good priest have lately taught me.  I do not say that it cannot be true:  but still, one so unsettled as I am may be allowed to waver.  But, Philip, I’ll assume that all is true.  Then, if it be true, without the oath you would be doing but your duty; and think not so meanly of Amine as to suppose she would restrain you from what is right.  No, Philip, seek your father, and, if you can, and he requires your aid, then save him.  But, Philip, do you imagine that a task like this, so high, is to be accomplished at one trial?  O! no;—­if you have been so chosen to fulfil it, you will be preserved through difficulty and danger until you have worked out your end.  You will be preserved, and you will again and again return;—­be comforted—­consoled—­be cherished—­and be loved by Amine as your wife.  And when it pleases Him to call you from this world, your memory, if she survive you, Philip, will equally be cherished in her bosom.  Philip, you have given me to decide;—­dearest Philip, I am thine.”

Amine extended her arms, and Philip pressed her to his bosom.  That evening Philip demanded his daughter of the father, and Mynheer Poots, as soon as Philip opened the iron safe and displayed the guilders, gave his immediate consent.

Father Seysen called the next day and received his answer; and three days afterwards, the bells of the little church of Terneuse were ringing a merry peal for the union of Amine Poots and Philip Vanderdecken.

Chapter VII