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time; and the subdued and respectful voices that answered, were those of

his guards

After abolts, and his

heart beat fast Surely, his half-hour had not already expired; and

if it had, would she be the person to conduct hiuished his candle, but not until he had

caught the gli, black hair; and then some one came in The door was closed; the

bolts shot back!--and he was alone with Miranda, the queen

There was no trouble about recognising her, for she carried in her hand

a sht fall

directly on both faces Each was rather white, perhaps, and one

heart was going faster than it had ever gone before, and that one was

decidedly not the queen's She was dressed exactly as he had seen her,

in purple and erely out of place she

looked there, in her splendid dress and splendid beauty, aht have been a dead, blank wall, or cut

out of cold, white stone, for all it expressed; and as she lightly held

up her rich robes in one hand, and in the other bore the light, the

dark, shining eyes were fixed on his face, and were as barren of

interest, eagerness, co, black glass ones of a wax doll So they stood looking at

each other for so full at

him, Miranda spoke, and her voice was as clear and esley, I have come to see you before you die"