she cannot oppose that for ever. For me she would even give up George De Witt."
"George De Witt is dead."
"I say, were it to come to this, George or Elijah, one or the other, you would fly to Elijah and cast George off."
"Let me go. I will have no more of this mad babble," said Mehalah, Wrenching her hands out of his grasp. She would not run away. She was too proud. She folded her arms on her breast and confronted him.
"Hark!" she said, "the Christmas bells."
Faint and far off could be heard the merry pealing of the Colchester bells. The wind had shifted.
"Peace on earth and good will to men," muttered Elijah; "but to them that fight against their destiny fury and hate."
"Go back, Elijah, and speak to me no more on this matter. I will not hear you again. I have but endured it now."
"This is Christmas Eve," said Rebow. "In eight days is the New Year, and then you will be in Red Hall, Glory!"
"Listen to me, Elijah," exclaimed Mehalah passionately. "If you find me there, then you may hope to see your other fond dream fulfilled. Destiny will have been too strong for me."
"Farewell."
"May we not meet again!"
"We shall. It cannot be helped. I feel it coming. You may fight against it; you cannot escape. Destiny must fulfil itself. We must fight and love, and love and fight in life, in death, and through eternity, like the old warriors in Grim's Hoe."
"Farewell."
"Till this day sen'night."
CHAPTER XV
NEW YEAR'S EVE
No more sheep were stolen; but then the moon was filling her horns, and a robbery could not be committed without chance of detection. But though nothing further had been
