Wondering, doubting if he heard aright, Manuel looked at Elizabeth.
The painful, kindly smile, the incredulity, had disappeared from his
face; the power and confidence of her words seemed to persuade him
that at least she purposed seriously and was not uttering mere wishes.
It might be the enthusiasm and generosity of a child that inspired
her speech, but its determination and gravity of utterance demanded
at least a respectful hearing.

"What do you mean, Elizabeth?" he asked.

"I mean that I will go home and explain, and you shall be set free."

He shook his head. "There is nothing to be explained," said he.
"I am not here by mistake. I am very clearly guilty, if there is
guilt in doing what I am accused of. The hearts of those who
condemned me must be changed, and their eyes opened, or I shall
never be set free."

"God chooses humble agents," she said, humbly. "David slew Goliath,
and he was but a lad. He will open the way for me, and by me change
the hearts of those who condemned, and by me open their eyes.
Therefore I shall go,--I shall surely go. Ah, Mr. Manuel, give me
the picture! It is all that you shall have of the island of Foray,
please Almighty God, when these doors are all open for you, and your
hands are free, Sir, and we tell you to come, for the vessel is
waiting!"

She went out from the room while these words took solemn possession
of the place. She locked the door behind her;--no requirement of law
was to be neglected or withstood; she made him a prisoner whom she