which are detaining us so long, she threw around her such a cloak as was worn by women of the lower orders, and went out; bending her steps by the most circuitous and least frequented streets, to the Palace. It was absolutely necessary, however, that she should pass the great place of S. Sophia; and there, to her astonishment, a dense crowd of people were assembled. While endeavouring to make her way through them, she found that Gennadius, still the popular idol, was standing on the western steps of the Cathedral, and preaching; and, though all her aim was to pass as quietly and with as little observation as might be, she could not help catching now and then some fragments of his discourse.

Now," said he, "where is the succour ye hoped for from the Azymites? Now where are the promises of Eugenius and Martin? Your religion you have sold; your faith you have bartered; the blessing of your birthright is gone, and all for this mess of pottage,—for these miserable two thousand Genoese, who, far from delivering us, cannot deliver their own selves. Months ago I foretold this; and it has come to pass;;-the great and wise of the city bade us look to Europe for help ;to Europe we looked, and a broken reed it has been indeed! Months ago I bade you to stop your ears from hearing of the accursed union, not to say, peace, peace, when there is no peace; to chase the red hat from your city; and then I told you that you should dwell in safety, and the place of your defence should be the munitions of rocks: that bread should be given to you, and your waters should be sure. But I tell you to be of good comfort yet. GOD hath not utterly cast off this place, beautified by the Patriarchate, or glorified by the end of so many that now wear the martyr's purple, or the confessor's crown. Ye are mighty yet, prelates of the past! Alexander, and John Chrysostom, and Atticus, and Proclus, and Tarasius, and Germanus ! Ye plead our cause before the Throne of GOD. And GoD can deny nothing to them, but above all to the Ever-Virgin Protectress of this Temple. And mark my words. To-morrow S. Sophia will be like a triple wall of brass to those that have taken refuge in it;-thus far shall Islam go, but no

further; the Angel of the LORD, that shall descend tomorrow to the Pillar of Constantine, is even now furbishing his sword for the battle: deliverance is even now arising for the LORD's people."

So he harangued, as Anna with some difficulty made her way through the crowd, and entering the palace court, presented herself at De Rushton's dwelling. Greatly surprised was Theodora when she was told that the Lady Patellari in such a garb, and at such a time desired to see her; and could scarce find voice to give the order, "Let her instantly be conducted here."

"

"Oh, Anna," she cried, when their first long embrace was over," why did you not come to me before? Oh, if you knew what pains I had taken to find you out, till at last I was fain to believe that the report of your return to the city could not be true!"

"Dear Theodora," said Anna Patellari, " how could I come to you? I, whom every one would point out as the wife of Leontius the traitor,-I, whom above all things the Great Acolyth must abhor!"

"You do him wrong, dearest Anna. He pities you; he would help you in every way he could. And if there be any that dares to reproach you for another's guilt, his shame be on his own head. My happiness, Anna, you have diminished, by living in secresy, and, I fear," she added more hesitatingly, "in want, while I had abundance and luxury."

"Once," said Anna Patellari, "I was on the point of coming to you it was when my poor baby was taken away from me. That is now two months agone. But I did not do it then; and since that time never have I had the courage till now."

"GOD be thanked that you would come at last!" cried Theodora. "He knows I have need of comfort for to

"It was that which brought me," said her friend. "This may be the last night we shall ever meet. If the city is taken, as every one assures me it will be, to-morrow, I hope it will be the last time. For to know that it was my husband who directed the most successful operations, will fill my cup of grief to the full."

"Stay with me, stay with me, dearest Anna, till the day is decided," said Theodora. "For both our sakes, stay!" "I cannot, Theodora. I could not bear to meet your husband; nay, my very stay might be the means of involving you in danger."

The door opened, and De Rushton and Phranza entered.

"Lady," said the former," they told me you were here; and I am most truly glad that, in the moment of danger, you should turn to your real friends. It would have been wiser, it would have been better, had you done so long ago. But we must take precaution for your safety; not indeed so much threatened as that of others, for once let it be known that you are the wife of Leontius, and not a Turk will raise his finger against you. Only you must not expose yourself-the first heat of the sack, in the more distant parts of the city will respect no one. The Lord Phranza and I were even now consulting what was best for you,—”

May she not be with me ?" inquired Theodora.

No," replied De Rushton; "it were wise neither for you nor for her. If, lady, you take my advice, you will accept the Lord Protovestiare's offer, and keep quiet in his metœcia, where you shall have fitting attendance."

Anna could but just speak her thanks through her tears. Then, if the city falls," said Phranza, “be sure that my mansion will be taken possession of by no one under the dignity of a Pasha. As soon as you shall find that that is the case, ask boldly to speak with him, and tell him that you are the wife of Leontius. You know not, as well as I do, what influence there now is in that name. It will preserve you from insult all over the city, that is, if you only take care to be where there are spectators. The fear of being informed against by any will keep all in awe."

Some arrangements, consequent on this offer, and its acceptance, then took place; a servant of Sir Edward's was despatched to the lodgings which the Lady Patellari had occupied, with intelligence that she would not return, and instructions to bring the few things which she possessed there. Phranza repeated his advice, and con

vinced himself that she understood it; and then proposed to escort Anna to her apartments, under pretence that she must be fatigued, but in reality to afford Sir Edward opportunity for the conversation which he knew he was desirous of having with his wife.—

When they were left alone, De Rushton seated himself on the couch where Theodora was, and drawing her to him, said," Theodora, love, this may be the last time that we shall ever be together alone. Will you promise me, when I cannot be with you, to obey to the letter what I am going to tell you to do ?"

"Do not speak so, Edward; do not speak so; I cannot bear it."

"But, love, would you not rather hear the truth? Whoever deceives, let us be true .to ourselves, and to each other. Be my own wife; and, as I trust you to GOD, so you trust me to Him. It does not make matters the worse to look them in the face."

"No," said Theodora, sobbing, "but-but-"

"But you thought all this time you had been making up your mind to this danger; and when it comes, it comes to you like a strange thing. Did I ever deceive you? Did I ever flatter you with the hopes that we should be finally successful ?"

Theodora made no reply; but only hid her face in her husband's shoulder, and nestled more closely towards him.

"Let us first make up our minds to the danger, and then let us see how much ground we have for hope and for comfort. Theodora, I have no more doubt that by this time to-morrow Constantinople will be in the hands of the Turks, than if that morrow were already past. Always," he said reverently, "excepting the case that GOD interferes by a miracle."

"But why may He not ?" asked Theodora.

"Far be it from me to say that He may not," replied De Rushton. "But did He interfere to save His own city Jerusalem, when it first fell before the Saracens, or from Saladin? His ways are not our ways. It may be so; GOD grant it be so; but humanly speaking, the city is doomed, and doomed to-morrow. Now, to say that

any persons now in it can escape without imminent danger, were most false; but all have a chance; and a chance that very much depends on themselves. Your father and I have been talking over what you must do; and this is what we have decided on." And he told her of the plan.

"How much care have you taken for us all," cried Theodora. "But oh, Edward, if at midnight you should not come !"

"Well, dearest one, then you must conclude that I am a prisoner; and if so, they will be only too glad to let me ransom myself. But your father, or I, or one of the others will undoubtedly come; and whoever it is, Theodora, for my sake, for your own sake, for all our sakes, lose no time in making vain inquiries after me or your father, but go at once.'

"It will be the hardest thing I ever did, if God so orders it," said his bride, "but I will obey you; I give you my promise that I will go at once, or act as we shall be told."

"Then," said Sir Edward, "the great difficulty is now over: how to dispose of you, of you both, I mean, for for Manuel's sake, I love Euphrasia as a sister. I do not think you can possibly be discovered for many hours after the capture of the city. But we must talk of other things, for time presses. What jewels have you ?"

"All that belonged to my poor mother-shall I fetch them ?"

"If you can do it at once.' And Theodora returned with them in a very short time. Even for the Court of Byzantium, they were remarkably choice; and in western Europe might have been the envy of a queen.

"This is very fortunate, love," said her husband. "These you will be able to take with you-whereas money and plate are useless to us now. I tried this afternoon to purchase jewels, but there are none left in the city-all bought up. Why, those two rose-diamonds must in themselves be a fortune, Do not conceal them all together for, depend upon it, strict search will be made for jewels by the Turks; and to be in poverty, in a strange land, would indeed be a hard fate for you.'