CHAPTER XIV.
THE LAST MEETING OF FAWKES AND VIVIANA.
Up to this time, Viviana had not been allowed another interview with GuyFawkes. She was twice interrogated by the Privy-Council, but havingconfessed all she knew of the conspiracy, excepting what might implicateGarnet and Oldcorne, neither of whom she was aware had beenapprehended, she was not again subjected to the torture. Her health,however, rapidly sank under her confinement, and she was soon reduced tosuch an extreme state of debility that she could not leave her bed. Thechirurgeon having been called in by Dame Ipgreve to attend her, reportedher condition to Sir William Waad, who directed that every means shouldbe adopted for her restoration, and that Ruth Ipgreve should remain inconstant attendance upon her.
Ascertaining all particulars relative to Guy Fawkes from the jailer'sdaughter, it was a sad satisfaction to Viviana to learn that he spenthis whole time in devotion, and appeared completely resigned to hisfate. It had been the Earl of Salisbury's purpose to bring Viviana totrial at the same time as the rest of the conspirators, but thechirurgeon reporting that her removal at this juncture would be attendedwith fatal consequences, he was compelled to defer it.
When the result of the trial was made known to Viviana by Ruth, thoughshe had anticipated the condemnation of Guy Fawkes, she swooned away,and on her recovery, observed to Ruth, who was greatly alarmed at herlooks, "I feel I am going fast. I should wish to see my husband oncemore before I die."
"I fear it is impossible, madam," replied Ruth; "but I will try toaccomplish it."
"Do so," rejoined Viviana; "and my blessing shall rest ever on yourhead."
"Have you any valuable?" inquired Ruth. "My heart bleeds to make thedemand at such a moment. But it is the only way to produce an effect onthe avaricious nature of my father."
"I have nothing but this golden crucifix," said Viviana; "and I meant togive it to you."
"It will be better employed in this way," rejoined Ruth, taking it fromher.
Quitting the cell, she hurried to the Well Tower, and found her father,who had just returned from locking up the conspirators in theirdifferent dungeons, sitting down to his evening meal.
"What is the matter with the wench?" he cried, staring at her. "You lookquite distracted. Is Viviana Radcliffe dead?"
"No; but she is dying," replied Ruth.
"If that is the case I must go to her directly," observed Dame Ipgreve."She may have some valuable about her which I must secure."
"You will be disappointed, mother," rejoined Ruth, with a look ofirrepressible disgust. "She has nothing valuable left but this goldencrucifix, which she has sent to my father, on condition of his allowingGuy Fawkes to see her before she dies."
"Give it me, wench," cried Jasper Ipgreve; "and let her die in peace."
"She will _not_ die in peace unless she sees him," replied Ruth. "Norshall you have it, if you do not comply with her request."
"How!" exclaimed her father, "do you dare----"
"Think not to terrify me, father," interrupted Ruth; "I am resolute inthis. Hear me," she cried, seizing his arm, and fixing a look upon himthat seemed to pierce his soul,--"hear me," she said, in a tone so lowas to be inaudible to her mother; "she _shall_ see him, or I willdenounce you as the murderer of Tresham. Now will you comply?"
"Give me the cross," said Ipgreve.
"Not till you have earned it," replied his daughter.
"Well, well," he rejoined; "if it must be, it must. But I may get intotrouble in the matter. I must consult Master Forsett, the gentlemanjailer, who has the charge of Guy Fawkes, before I dare take him to hercell."
"Consult whom you please," rejoined Ruth, impatiently; "but lose notime, or you will be too late."
Muttering imprecations on his daughter, Ipgreve left the Well Tower, andRuth hurried back to Viviana, whom she found anxiously expecting her,and related to her what she had done.
"Oh, that I may hold out till he comes!" cried Viviana; "but my strengthis failing fast."
Ruth endeavoured to comfort her; but she was unequal to the effort, andbursting into tears, knelt down, and wept upon the pillow beside her.Half an hour had now elapsed. It seemed an age to the poor sufferers,and still the jailer came not, and even Ruth had given up all hope, whena heavy tread was heard in the passage; the door was opened; and GuyFawkes appeared, attended by Ipgreve and Forsett.
"We will not interrupt your parting," said Forsett, who seemed to have atouch of humanity in his composition. And beckoning to Ruth to followhim, he quitted the cell with Ipgreve.
Guy Fawkes, meanwhile, had approached the couch, and gazed with anexpression of intense anguish at Viviana. She returned his glance with alook of the utmost affection, and clasped his hand between her thinfingers.
"I am now standing on the brink of eternity," she said in a solemn tone,"and I entreat you earnestly, as you hope to insure our meetinghereafter, to employ the few days left you in sincere and heartyrepentance. You have sinned--sinned deeply, but not beyond the power ofredemption. Let me feel that I have saved you, and my last moments willbe happy. Oh! by the love I have borne you--by the pangs I have enduredfor you--by the death I am now dying for you--let me implore you not tolose one moment, but to supplicate a merciful Providence to pardon youroffence."
_Death of Viviana_]
"I will--I will," rejoined Fawkes, in broken accents. "You have openedmy eyes to my error, and I sincerely repent it."
"Saved! saved!" cried Viviana, raising herself in the bed. Opening herarms, she strained him to her bosom; and for a few moments they mingledtheir tears together.
"And now," she said, sinking backwards, "kneel by me--pray forforgiveness--pray audibly, and I will join in your prayer."
Guy Fawkes knelt by the bedside, and addressed the most earnestsupplications to Heaven for forgiveness. For a while he heard Viviana'sgentle accents accompany him. They grew fainter and fainter, until atlast they totally ceased. Filled with a dreadful apprehension, he sprangto his feet. An angelic smile illumined her countenance; her gaze wasfixed on him for one moment--it then grew dim and dimmer, until it wasextinguished.
Guy Fawkes uttered a cry of the wildest despair, and fell to the ground.Alarmed by the sound, Forsett and Ipgreve, who were standing outside,rushed into the cell, and instantly raised him. But he was now in astate of distraction, and for the moment seemed endowed with all hisformer strength. Striving to break from them, he cried, in a tone of themost piercing anguish, "You shall not tear me from her! I will die withher! Let me go, I say, or I will dash out my brains against these flintywalls, and balk you of your prey."
But his struggles were in vain. They held him fast, and calling forfurther assistance, conveyed him to his cell, where, fearing he might dosome violence to himself, they placed him in irons.
Ruth entered the cell as soon as Fawkes and the others had quitted it,and performed the last sad offices for the departed. Alternately prayingand weeping, she watched by the body during the whole of the night. Onthe following day, the remains of the unfortunate Viviana were interredin the chapel of Saint Peter on the Green, and the sole mourner was thejailer's daughter.
"Peace be with her!" cried Ruth, as she turned away from the grave. "Hersorrows at last are over."