ity of my Edward shall become known, they will learn to trust their interest in his hands with the confidence of vas-sals." "Thou would'st fain persuade me," said Edward, laugh-ing, " that I may love my enemies." "I would persuade thee," said Eleanora, with a smile of confident affection, "to make thine enemies thy friends. Suspicion ever breeds hatred. There be many warm, true hearts in England, at this hour, who, having followed the fortunes of Leicester, for what they deemed the public good, are withheld by fear, from uttering the shout of loyalty." " And how would'st thou purpose that I should bind them to their allegiance ?" said Edward, curiously. " By the same rule that our blessed Lord restored this fallen world," returned the queen, timidly. " He declareth his love toward us, even while we are sinners, and thus we learn to confide in Him." " Verily, there seems truth in what thou sayest," said the king, thoughtfully ; "but it were a thing unheard of— for a ruler to illustrate the principles of forgiveness, and place his kingdom at the mercy of traitors." " The good St. Louis," urged Eleanora, almost fearful of pressing the matter too far, "leaned ever to the side of mercy ; and no king of France hath enjoyed a more peace-ful or glorious reign." "It shall be as thou sayest," said Edward, after a pause, during which he gazed upon her pleading countenance, whose every feature mirrored the intense interest of her heart in the welfare of their subjects, and the honor of her lord. "It shall be as thou sayest. Heaven cannot suffer me to err in this matter, since it hath sent an angel for my coun-sellor." Then resuming his accustomed tone'of affectionate pleasantry, he added, "Thou think'st it well, dearest, for a warrior like myself to perform some work of supereroga-tion, to cancelthe sins into which my love of power may yet lead 'me. But small merit may I claim for my clemency, since it were not in the nature of man to withstand the sweet earnestness with which thou dost enforce thy gentle counsels." HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.