THK CRYSTAL: A RECORD OF 1665. 543 



grinned and gnashed with their teeth against me, or made most 

 horrid contortions, mocking and mowing with their mouths. 



After breakfast I took a volume of Edmund Spenser, and drew a 

 chair near to the window, at which, from some hidden impulse, I 

 usually sat. My eyes ran mechanically over the pages, with little 

 cognizance of their contents ; and the partial attention I gave was 

 drawn away by every noise in the streets. Now, as at other times, 

 whenever a cart appeared, my heart beat quick, and swelled as if it 

 would burst. But when it had passed I felt relieved, and the heart's 

 wild throbbings would for a while subside. 



The day grew high, and I was about to go down to our dear old 

 mother's room, when I heard the rumble of another cart, and re- 

 mained. It was heavily laden, and on the top I saw 



I ran I flew, and stood before the cart, and drawing my sword 

 commanded the men, in the voice of one that would be obeyed, to 

 stop. I needed not have been so fierce they did so. I mounted on 

 the wheels, and with a strong arm lifted up my loved my lost one. 

 I leaped to the ground with the dear burden, and bore it off ran 

 with it through the solitary streets, as one pursued, till I came I 

 know not whither, into the country the open fields. There, under 

 a tree, I laid her down on my cloak, and wrapped it about her : I 

 disposed her hair I wiped the dust from her face, and then, sitting 

 down by her side, I took her cold hand in mine. I then first per- 

 ceived let the villain's heart wither like mine who did the deed ! 

 that the finger on which she had worn an emerald ring I gave her 

 had been cut off ! I bound my handkerchief around the wounded 

 hand and took the other, but it returned not my pressure. I kissed 

 her lips where the rose was faded, and I called to her aloud 

 te Awake, Margaret, awake !" but she woke not. Hours hours, 

 till the morning moon arose, I sat thus by her side, speaking to her 

 all the tender things she had been accustomed to hear from me, but 

 she gave no answer. 



At last cooler reason came again, and told me she had ceased to 

 live. Then I arose, and with my sword scooped out a grave a 

 work which took me till the sun shone smilingly forth, as if he had 

 no sympathy for the mourning world he looked upon. It was long, 

 then, before I could consign her blessed body to its final dwelling- 

 place. At last I took one farewell kiss one last desperate embrace, 

 and, shrouded in my cloak, laid her on the wild flowers I had 

 gathered and thrown in. Then I covered her with more, and dis- 

 posing green branches over these, at last filled up the grave with 

 soil, and replaced the turf I had dug up ; and all this I did, pleased 

 amidst my agony to think that she at least was saved from that 

 horrid common grave intended for her. Oh, Margaret, Margaret ! 

 in that grave my heart, with all its affections and hopes, lies buried 

 with thee. 



Well-beloved Thomas, my task is timely done I feel the symp- 

 toms of plague the weariness, the lassitude which I have noted in 

 others, conies rapidly and conqueringly upon me. I must lie down, 

 to rise no more. Well, God bless you, Thomas ; he is all my blessing 



