110
calmly looking upon her father, firmly says, "I am his wife."
The other picture should have for its scene the magnificent hall of an old baronial castle, the morning sun brightly shining on a group of courtiers gathered around their monarch. In the midst, Evelyn and Francesca, whose simple dress and noble bearing would form a striking contrast to the gaily-robed and light-minded assembly. The moment of interest would be when Evelyn, with undaunted mien and dignified firmness, having declared his high resolve of becoming an exile for his faith—Francesca—with
"Courage cast about her like a dress
Of solemn comeliness,
Her gathered mind, and her untroubled face
Giving her dangers grace,"
(Donne.)
—with womanly gentleness and womanly devotedness, calmly turning from that courtly throng, replies to her father's angry and expostulatory question, by placing her hand in her husband's, and standing in silence at his side.
The next night finds them on the ocean; after all their difficulties they are together; and with that thought is happiness. But a storm is rising—it increases; Francesca overhears the captain telling Evelyn that in a quarter of an hour they must in evitably strike on the rocks; with agony he exclaims, "It is for my sake she is here!"
"'Yes, Evelyn,' said Francesca, in a voice of touching sweetness, but calm, not one accent changed—'and here I am happy. Whatever be the world of which yonder dark sea is the portal, we shall seek it together. I knew that this earth was not my home,—that here hopes and affections were to be blighted
