CHAPTER VI.
THE EMPEROR'S COMMAND His voice made tremulous music, inaudible a few paces away; his breath was on her cheek; his eyes, as she gazed into them, seemed to envelop her in their glow.
'My fairest! Let me but touch your hand.

Lay it for a moment in mine--a pledge for ever!' 'You do not fear to love me, O lord of my life ?' The whisper made him faint with joy.
'What has fear to do with love, O thou with heaven in thine eyes! what room is there for fear in the heart where thy beauty dwells?
Speak again, speak again, my beloved, and bless me above all men that live!' 'Basil! Basil! Utter my name once more.

I never knew how sweet it could sound.' 'Nor I, how soft could be the sound of mine.

Forgive me, O Veranilda, that out of my love pain has come to you.

You will not ever be sad again?
You will not think ever again of those bygone sorrows ?' She bent her head low.
'Can you believe in my truth, O Basil?
Can _you_ forget ?' 'All save the nobleness of her who bore you, sweet and fair one.' 'Let _that_ be ever in your thought,' said Veranilda, with a radiant look.