cried her rival . Edith groaned as with a sudden compression of the heart , and , removing her cheek from the dead youth 's pillow , she stood upright , fearfully encountering the eyes of the lofty girl . `` Wilt thou betray me ? '' said the latter , calmly . `` Till the dead bid me speak I will be silent , '' answered Edith . `` Leave us alone together . Go and live many years , and then return and tell me of thy life . He too will be here . Then , if thou tellest of sufferings more than death , we will both forgive thee . '' `` And what shall be the token ? '' asked the proud girl , as if her heart acknowledged a meaning in these wild words . `` This lock of hair , '' said Edith , lifting one of the dark clustering curls that lay heavily on the dead man 's brow . The two maidens joined their hands over the bosom of the corpse and appointed a day and hour far , far in time to come for their next meeting in that chamber . The statelier girl gave one deep look at the motionless countenance and departed , yet turned again and trembled ere she closed the door , almost believing that her dead lover frowned upon her . And Edith , too ! Was not her white form fading into the moonlight ? Scorning her own weakness , she went forth and perceived that a negro slave was waiting in the passage with a waxlight , which he held between her face and his own and regarded her , as she thought , with an ugly expression of merriment . Lifting his torch on high , the slave lighted her down the staircase and undid the portal of the mansion . The young clergyman of the town had just ascended the steps , and , bowing to the lady , passed in without a word . Years -- many years -- rolled on .
The world seemed new again , so much older was it grown since the night when those pale girls had clasped their hands across the bosom XXXXX the corpse .
Till at between down in of over to upon with