the motives of his impriſonment, but in vain. He was rouſed from his reverie, by the unbarring of the dungeon-door it opened, and Hugo entered, armed, and with a drawn ſword in his hand. He brought with him a pitcher of water and a ſmall loaf, which he laid down near the door, and inſtantly departed without uttering a word. Heavily indeed paſſed the hours of this day: night at laſt came, and brought with it the ſame horrors as the preceding one. He ſtill thought that he heard at times the deep chilling groan, and the hand endeavouring to remove the faſtenings of the door which he had found impaſſable. He ſlept; again, the voice called for vengeance; again, the murderer lay ſlain; again, his Edith appeared on the brink of ruin; and he thought that now, with a frantic voice, ſhe called on him to fave her from deſtruction.
About noon the next day the doors unbarred, and Hugo entered, armed, and bringing, as before, a loaf and pitcher. “Tell me,” cried Fitzalan, ſtarting from the ground, “by what authority, and for what purpoſe, I am brought here. To what fate am I doomed?”–“To death,” anſwered Hugo. “It is decided upon. To-night, when the caſtle clock ſtrikes twelve, expect your executioners. Recommend yourſelf therefore to God, and prepare for your end. I wiſh,” added he, in a ſoftened tone, “that I were to have no part in your murder; but if I were to refuſe, my own life would be the forfeit.” Saying this, he cloſed the door, leaving Fitzalan in a ſtate of mind bordering upon madneſs. In exclamations of the moſt unbounded rage, in vain attempts to force a paſſage from his dungeon, and in meditating upon the helpleſs ſituation of his wife and infant, hour after hour paſſed away, till at length the bell announced eleven. Fitzalan now rallying his ſcattered ſenſes, proſtrated himſelf in ſupplication to the father of mercy; and implored his protection for his Edwin, for his Edith. “When he pronounced theſe dear names, all his reſolution vaniſhed: his dreams recurred to his mind, and he felt an overpowering and ominous fear for their ſafety. A hollow groan rung
