amiable observance of every admonition, and her evident desire to regard the wishes no less than the positive com-mands of her royal benefactress, and especially did she win the love of the mother by her graceful attentions to the infant Princess Beatrice. While Agnes was actuated by the most dutiful affection to her father, she seemed by a happy trustfulness to escape participation in that gloom and care which daily deepened upon the clouded brow of the Sicilian. Desirous to relieve what she deemed his apprehensions for the future welfare of his daughter, the queen took occa-sion, upon, one of his visits, to assure him of her increasing attachment to her lovely charge. " Thy generous interest in the despised exile softens my bitter fate," said he, " but could the unhappy Procida en-list the influence of England's gracious sovereign in the great project that preys upon his being, he would feel that he had not lived in vain." " My lord the king is ever ready to assist the unfortu-nate," said Eleanora, encouragingly, " and is free from those prejudices which embarrass weaker minds. If thou deem-est it proper to reveal thy secret, his queen will herself en-deavor to redress thy wrongs." " Procida seeks not the redress of a personal affront, nor restoration to his island home ; my project is," said the Sicilian, drawing near the queen, and speaking in a low tone of terrible emphasis, "revenge/—death to the infa-mous Charles d'Anjou !" The startled Eleanora essayed no reply, but gazed in mute terror at the dark and malignant face of the conspirator. " Yes," continued he, his tall figure dilating with long repressed and cherished passion, " I will rouse all Europe with the wrongs of the noble house of Snabia." "I know," said the queen, the words faintly struggling through her white lips, " the woes inflicted upon our cousins of Suabia by the relentless fury of the Guelphs, but I dare not assume the office of their judge. It is written, ' Vengeance is mine, I will repay it, saith the Lord.' " ELEANOBA. 429