1830.] The Warning Voice. 405 



of a fatherless child, would bind my Isabel to life, if she love the name 

 of Vernon. Now, dearest, take my last embrace. Restrain your tears, 

 and still that throbing bosom. Be assured on you my thoughts will rest 

 while life remains, and for you, my prayers will ascend, even in that 

 moment, when my emancipated soul leaves its mortal home." 



Scarcely conscious of what she did, Isabel clung to her husband in 

 frantic agony. 



" This is not well," he exclained, with sternness. The altered tone of 

 his voice thrilled her. 



" Take the dear one/' he added, with relenting tenderness, gently 

 putting her from him. Herbert received the interesting charge. 



" Stay, Vernon," cried Isabel. 



" It must not be," he replied, " or want of courage will be said to 

 disgrace my last hour. Our adieus have been exchanged, the parting 

 blessing has been breathed, and I have nothing now to do on earth 

 but to die, as becomes a soldier and a man." 



While speaking he withdrew ; and when Isabel, who had for a moment 

 raised her hand to her forehead, to conceal her tears, would have looked 

 on him again, she saw him not. 



" Is he gone !" she exclaimed. " Is that generous heart to be stilled 

 for ever, and by command of that sovereign, for whom, on the battle 

 field, its best blood had cheerfully been shed ?" 



" Daughter, it is deemed necessary that the severe rules of military 

 discipline should be upheld, even at the expence of human life." 



" But shall he be the victim of relentless principle who only acted 

 on the suggestions of prudence, where valour could nothing avail. 

 Oh, Sir ! there has been base slander at work ; the king is deceived. 

 Yet why, feeling this, do I tarry here ! I will to his majesty ! No force 

 shall bar me from him. I will prove that Vernon has been calum- 

 niated." 



She advanced towards the door. Herbert opposed her progress. 



" Nay, Madam, this may not be you must not seek the king. Believe 

 me, all that you would say in Vernon' s favour, has already been said." 



" Sir ! you are cruel, thus to bar my passage. Who could plead for 

 the devoted soldier like his wife ?" 



" He might be heard with more attention, whose representations would 

 seem to flow from a love of truth, rather than from affection." 



"Yet let me go. Oh, this is monstrous ! not to permit a wretched 

 wife to sue for mercy !" 



" Were I not sure the effort must be vain, I would support your pre- 

 sent resolution. But the king's mind, I say it not on light grounds, is 

 made up, and he is not to be moved." 



" My anguish will touch his heart, and Vernon may live." 



" Believe me sincere when I say it were I not certain, certain as that 

 I stand here a breathing sinner, that your seeking the royal presence 

 cannot, by possibility, benefit your husband, I would not restrain you." 



" Sir, you forget that the wisest and holiest of men have erred, and 

 your reason, in other matters most excellent, may here be defective. 

 Then never tell me that the king may not be induced by tears, by reason, 

 and by startling facts, to change his purpose." 



" Again, I say, the effort cannot serve Vernon. Therefore be calm." * 



" Calm ! nay, speak not thus. Man of God ! can musing on heaven 

 have dissolved in thy heart all sympathy with earth. Shall a wife be 



