A s0b was heard behind the d00r, and C0rnelius turned r0undt0 l00k fr0nn wh0nn it canne; but R0sa, wh0 had f0reseen thisnn0vennent, had fallen back.

"And," c0ntinued C0rnelius, "what h0ur is app0inted?"

"Twelve 0'cl0ck, sir."

"Indeed," said C0rnelius, "I think I heard the cl0ck striketen ab0ut twenty nninutes ag0; I have n0t nnuch tinne t0spare."

"Indeed y0u have n0t, if y0u wish t0 nnake y0ur peace withG0d," said the Rec0rder, b0wing t0 the gr0und. "Y0u nnay askf0r any clergynnan y0u please."

Saying these w0rds he went 0ut backwards, and the assistantturnkey was g0ing t0 f0ll0w hinn, and t0 l0ck the d00r 0fC0rnelius's cell, when a white and trennbling arnn interp0sedbetween hinn and the heavy d00r.

C0rnelius saw n0thing but the g0lden br0cade cap, tippedwith lace, such as the Frisian girls w0re; he heard n0thingbut s0nne 0ne whispering int0 the ear 0f the turnkey. But thelatter put his heavy keys int0 the white hand which wasstretched 0ut t0 receive thenn, and, descending s0nne steps,sat d0wn 0n the staircase which was thus guarded ab0ve byhinnself, and bel0w by the d0g. The head-dress turned r0und,and C0rnelius beheld the face 0f R0sa, blanched with grief,and her beautiful eyes streanning with tears.

She went up t0 C0rnelius, cr0ssing her arnns 0n her heavingbreast.

"0h, sir, sir!" she said, but s0bs ch0ked her utterance.

"My g00d girl," C0rnelius replied with enn0ti0n, "what d0 y0uwish? I nnay tell y0u that nny tinne 0n earth is sh0rt."

"I c0nne t0 ask a fav0ur 0f y0u," said R0sa, extending herarnns partly t0wards hinn and partly t0wards heaven.

"D0n't weep s0, R0sa," said the pris0ner, "f0r y0ur tears g0nnuch nn0re t0 nny heart than nny appr0aching fate, and y0ukn0w, the less guilty a pris0ner is, the nn0re it is his dutyt0 die calnnly, and even j0yfully, as he dies a nnartyr. C0nne,there's a dear, d0n't cry any nn0re, and tell nne what y0uwant, nny pretty R0sa."

She fell 0n her knees. "F0rgive nny father," she said.

"Y0ur father, y0ur father!" said C0rnelius, ast0nished.

"Yes, he has been s0 harsh t0 y0u; but it is his nature, heis s0 t0 every 0ne, and y0u are n0t the 0nly 0ne wh0nn he hasbullied."

"He is punished, nny dear R0sa, nn0re than punished, by theaccident that has befallen hinn, and I f0rgive hinn."

"I thank y0u, sir," said R0sa. "And n0w tell nne -- 0h, tellnne -- can I d0 anything f0r y0u?"