第9章

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

April16，1907。

TheonlyreliefIhavehadfromthehauntinganxietyregardingtheLadyoftheShroudhasbeeninthetroubledstateofmyadoptedcountry。TherehasevidentlybeensomethingupwhichIhavenotbeenallowedtoknow。Themountaineersaretroubledandrestless；arewanderingabout，singlyandinparties，andholdingmeetingsinstrangeplaces。ThisiswhatIgatherusedtobeinolddayswhenintrigueswereonfootwithTurks，Greeks，Austrians，Italians，Russians。Thisconcernsmevitally，formymindhaslongbeenmadeuptosharethefortunesoftheLandoftheBlueMountains。ForgoodorillImeantostayhere：J’ysuis，j’yreste。IsharehenceforththelotoftheBlueMountaineers；andnotTurkey，norGreece，norAustria，norItaly，norRussia——no，notFrancenorGermanyeither；

notmannorGodnorDevilshalldrivemefrommypurpose。WiththesepatriotsIthrowinmylot！Myonlydifficultyseemedatfirsttobewiththementhemselves。TheyaresoproudthatatthebeginningI

fearedtheywouldnotevenaccordmethehonourofbeingoneofthem！

However，thingsalwaysmoveonsomehow，nomatterwhatdifficultiestherebeatthebeginning。Nevermind！Whenonelooksbackatanaccomplishedfactthebeginningisnottobeseen——andifitwereitwouldnotmatter。Itisnotofanyaccount，anyhow。

Iheardthattherewasgoingtobeagreatmeetingnearhereyesterdayafternoon，andIattendedit。Ithinkitwasasuccess。

Ifsuchisanyproof，IfeltelatedaswellassatisfiedwhenIcameaway。AuntJanet’sSecondSightonthesubjectwascomforting，thoughgrim，andinameasuredisconcerting。WhenIwassayinggood—

nightsheaskedmetobenddownmyhead。AsIdidso，shelaidherhandsonitandpassedthemalloverit。Iheardhersaytoherself：

"Strange！There’snothingthere；yetIcouldhaveswornIsawit！"

Iaskedhertoexplain，butshewouldnot。Foronceshewasalittleobstinate，andrefusedpointblanktoeventalkofthesubject。Shewasnotworriednorunhappy；soIhadnocauseforconcern。Isaidnothing，butIshallwaitandsee。Mostmysteriesbecomeplainordisappearaltogetherintime。Butaboutthemeeting——lestIforget！

WhenIjoinedthemountaineerswhohadassembled，Ireallythinktheyweregladtoseeme；thoughsomeofthemseemedadverse，andothersdidnotseemoverwellsatisfied。However，absoluteunityisveryseldomtobefound。Indeed，itisalmostimpossible；andinafreecommunityisnotaltogethertobedesired。Whenitisapparent，thegatheringlacksthatsenseofindividualfeelingwhichmakesfortherealconsensusofopinion——whichistherealunityofpurpose。Themeetingwasatfirst，therefore，alittlecoldanddistant。Butpresentlyitbegantothaw，andaftersomefieryharanguesIwasaskedtospeak。Happily，IhadbeguntolearntheBalkanlanguageassoonaseverUncleRoger’swisheshadbeenmadeknowntome，andasI

havesomefacilityoftonguesandagreatdealofexperience，Isoonbegantoknowsomethingofit。Indeed，whenIhadbeenhereafewweeks，withopportunityofspeakingdailywiththepeoplethemselves，andlearnedtounderstandtheintonationsandvocalinflexions，I

feltquiteeasyinspeakingit。Iunderstoodeverywordwhichhaduptothenbeenspokenatthemeeting，andwhenIspokemyselfIfeltthattheyunderstood。Thatisanexperiencewhicheveryspeakerhasinacertainwayanduptoacertainpoint。Heknowsbysomekindofinstinctifhishearersarewithhim；iftheyrespond，theymustcertainlyhaveunderstood。Lastnightthiswasmarked。IfeltiteveryinstantIwastalkingandwhenIcametorealizethatthemenwereinstrictaccordwithmygeneralviews，Itookthemintoconfidencewithregardtomyownpersonalpurpose。Itwasthebeginningofamutualtrust；soforperorationItoldthemthatIhadcometotheconclusionthatwhattheywantedmostfortheirownprotectionandthesecurityandconsolidationoftheirnationwasarms——armsoftheverylatestpattern。Heretheyinterruptedmewithwildcheers，whichsostrungmeupthatIwentfartherthanI

intended，andmadeadaringventure。"Ay，"Irepeated，"thesecurityandconsolidationofyourcountry——ofOURcountry，forIhavecometoliveamongstyou。HereismyhomewhilstIlive。Iamwithyouheartandsoul。Ishalllivewithyou，fightshouldertoshoulderwithyou，and，ifneedbe，shalldiewithyou！"Heretheshoutingwasterrific，andtheyoungermenraisedtheirgunstofireasaluteinBlueMountainfashion。ButontheinstanttheVladika{1}helduphishandsandmotionedthemtodesist。Intheimmediatesilencehespoke，sharplyatfirst，butlaterascendingtoahighpitchofsingle—minded，loftyeloquence。Hiswordsranginmyearslongafterthemeetingwasoverandotherthoughtshadcomebetweenthemandthepresent。

"Silence！"hethundered。"Makenoechoesintheforestorthroughthehillsatthisdiretimeofstressandthreateneddangertoourland。Bethinkyeofthismeeting，heldhereandinsecret，inorderthatnowhisperofitmaybeheardafar。Haveyeall，bravemenoftheBlueMountains，comehitherthroughtheforestlikeshadowsthatsomeofyou，thoughtless，mayenlightenyourenemiesastooursecretpurpose？Thethunderofyourgunswoulddoubtlesssoundwellintheearsofthosewhowishusillandtrytoworkuswrong。Fellow—

countrymen，knowyenotthattheTurkisawakeoncemoreforourharming？TheBureauofSpieshasrisenfromthetorporwhichcameonitwhenthepurposeagainstourTeutarousedourmountainstosuchangerthatthefrontiersblazedwithpassion，andweresweptwithfireandsword。Moreover，thereisatraitorsomewhereintheland，orelseincautiouscarelessnesshasservedthesamebasepurpose。

Somethingofourneeds——ourdoing，whosesecretwehavetriedtohide，hasgoneout。ThemyrmidonsoftheTurkarecloseonourborders，anditmaybethatsomeofthemhavepassedourguardsandareamidstusunknown。Soitbehovesusdoublytobediscreet。

BelievemethatIsharewithyou，mybrothers，ourloveforthegallantEnglishmanwhohascomeamongstustoshareoursorrowsandambitions——andItrustitmaybeourjoys。Weareallunitedinthewishtodohimhonour——thoughnotinthewaybywhichdangermightbecarriedonthewingsoflove。Mybrothers，ournewestbrothercomestousfromtheGreatNationwhichamongstthenationshasbeenouronlyfriend，andwhichhaserenowhelpedusinourdirestneed——thatmightyBritainwhosehandhaseverbeenraisedinthecauseoffreedom。WeoftheBlueMountainsknowherbestasshestandswithswordinhandfacetofacewithourfoes。Andthis，hersonandnowourbrother，bringsfurthertoourneedthehandofagiantandtheheartofalion。Lateron，whendangerdoesnotringusround，whensilenceisnolongerourouterguard；weshallbidhimwelcomeintruefashionofourland。Buttillthenhewillbelieve——forheisgreat—hearted——thatourloveandthanksandwelcomearenottobemeasuredbysound。Whenthetimecomes，thenshallbesoundinhishonour——notofriflesalone，butbellsandcannonandthemightyvoiceofafreepeopleshoutingasone。Butnowwemustbewiseandsilent，fortheTurkisonceagainatourgates。Alas！thecauseofhisformercomingmaynotbe，forshewhosebeautyandnobilityandwhoseplaceinournationandinourheartstemptedhimtofraudandviolenceisnotwithustoshareevenouranxiety。"

Herehisvoicebroke，andtherearosefromalladeepwailingsound，whichroseandrosetillthewoodsaroundusseemedbrokenbyamightyandlong—sustainedsob。Theoratorsawthathispurposewasaccomplished，andwithashortsentencefinishedhisharangue："Buttheneedofournationstillremains！"Then，withaneloquentgesturetometoproceed，hemergedinthecrowdanddisappeared。

HowcouldIevenattempttofollowsuchaspeakerwithanyhopeofsuccess？IsimplytoldthemwhatIhadalreadydoneinthewayofhelp，saying：

"Asyouneededarms，Ihavegotthem。Myagentsendsmewordthroughthecodebetweenusthathehasprocuredforme——forus——fiftythousandofthenewest—patternrifles，theFrenchIngis—Malbron，whichhassurpassedallothers，andsufficientammunitiontolastforayearofwar。Thefirstsectionisinhand，andwillsoonbereadyforconsignment。Thereareotherwarmaterials，too，which，whentheyarrive，willenableeverymanandwoman——eventhechildren——ofourlandtotakeapartinitsdefenceshouldsuchbeneeded。Mybrothers，Iamwithyouinallthings，forgoodorill！"

Itmademeveryproudtohearthemightyshoutwhicharose。Ihadfeltexaltedbefore，butnowthispersonaldevelopmentalmostunmannedme。Iwasgladofthelong—sustainedapplausetorecovermyself—control。

Iwasquitesatisfiedthatthemeetingdidnotwanttohearanyotherspeaker，fortheybegantomeltawaywithoutanyformalnotificationhavingbeengiven。Idoubtiftherewillbeanothermeetingsoonagain。Theweatherhasbeguntobreak，andweareinforanotherspellofrain。Itisdisagreeable，ofcourse；butithasitsowncharm。ItwasduringaspellofwetweatherthattheLadyoftheShroudcametome。Perhapstherainmaybringheragain。Ihopeso，withallmysoul。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

April23，1907。

Therainhascontinuedforfourwholedaysandnights，andthelow—

lyinggroundislikeaquagmireinplaces。Inthesunlightthewholemountainsglistenwithrunningstreamsandfallingwater。Ifeelastrangekindofelation，butfromnovisiblecause。AuntJanetratherqueereditbytellingme，asshesaidgood—night，tobeverycarefulofmyself，asshehadseeninadreamlastnightafigureinashroud。IfearshewasnotpleasedthatIdidnottakeitwithalltheseriousnessthatshedid。IwouldnotwoundherfortheworldifIcouldhelpit，buttheideaofashroudgetstoonearthebonetobesafe，andIhadtofendheroffatallhazards。SowhenIdoubtediftheFatesregardedthevisionaryshroudasofnecessityappertainingtome，shesaid，inawaythatwas，forher，almostsharp：

"Takecare，laddie。’Tisilljestingwi’thepowerso’timeUnknown。"

Perhapsitwasthathertalkputthesubjectinmymind。Thewomanneedednosuchaid；shewasalwaysthere；butwhenIlockedmyselfintomyroomthatnight，Ihalfexpectedtofindherintheroom。I

wasnotsleepy，soItookabookofAuntJanet’sandbegantoread。

Thetitlewas"OnthePowersandQualitiesofDisembodiedSpirits。"

"Yourgrammar，"saidItotheauthor，"ishardlyattractive，butI

maylearnsomethingwhichmightapplytoher。Ishallreadyourbook。"Beforesettlingdowntoit，however，IthoughtIwouldhavealookatthegarden。Sincethenightofthevisitthegardenseemedtohaveanewattractivenessforme：anightseldompassedwithoutmyhavingalastlookatitbeforeturningin。SoIdrewthegreatcurtainandlookedout。

Thescenewasbeautiful，butalmostentirelydesolate。Allwasghastlyintheraw，hardgleamsofmoonlightcomingfitfullythroughthemassesofflyingcloud。Thewindwasrising，andtheairwasdampandcold。Ilookedroundtheroominstinctively，andnoticedthatthefirewaslaidreadyforlighting，andthatthereweresmall—

cutlogsofwoodpiledbesidethehearth。EversincethatnightI

havehadafirelaidready。Iwastemptedtolightit，butasI

neverhaveafireunlessIsleepintheopen，Ihesitatedtobegin。

Iwentbacktothewindow，and，openingthecatch，steppedoutontheterrace。AsIlookeddownthewhitewalkandletmyeyesrangeovertheexpanseofthegarden，whereeverythingglistenedasthemoonlightcaughtthewet，Ihalfexpectedtoseesomewhitefigureflittingamongsttheshrubsandstatues。ThewholesceneoftheformervisitcamebacktomesovividlythatIcouldhardlybelievethatanytimehadpassedsincethen。Itwasthesamescene，andagainlateintheevening。LifeinVissarionwasprimitive，andearlyhoursprevailed——thoughnotsolateasonthatnight。

AsIlookedIthoughtIcaughtaglimpseofsomethingwhitefaraway。

Itwasonlyarayofmoonlightcomingthroughtheruggededgeofacloud。Butallthesameitsetmeinastrangestateofperturbation。SomehowIseemedtolosesightofmyownidentity。ItwasasthoughIwashypnotizedbythesituationorbymemory，orperhapsbysomeoccultforce。WithoutthinkingofwhatIwasdoing，orbeingconsciousofanyreasonforit，Icrossedtheroomandsetlighttothefire。ThenIblewoutthecandleandcametothewindowagain。Ineverthoughtitmightbeafoolishthingtodo——tostandatawindowwithalightbehindmeinthiscountry，whereeverymancarriesagunwithhimalways。Iwasinmyeveningclothes，too，withmybreastwellmarkedbyawhiteshirt。Iopenedthewindowandsteppedoutontheterrace。ThereIstoodformanyminutes，thinking。Allthetimemyeyeskeptrangingoverthegarden。OnceI

thoughtIsawawhitefiguremoving，butitwasnotfollowedup，so，becomingconsciousthatitwasagainbeginningtorain，Isteppedbackintotheroom，shutthewindow，anddrewthecurtain。ThenI

realizedthecomfortingappearanceofthefire，andwentoverandstoodbeforeit。

Hark！Oncemoretherewasagentletappingatthewindow。Irushedovertoitanddrewthecurtain。

There，outontherain—beatenterrace，stoodthewhiteshroudedfigure，moredesolate—appearingthanever。Ghastlypaleshelooked，asbefore，buthereyeshadaneagerlookwhichwasnew。Itookitthatshewasattractedbythefire，whichwasbynowwellablaze，andwasthrowingupjetsofflameasthedrylogscrackled。Theleapingflamesthrewfitfullightacrosstheroom，andeverygleamthrewthewhite—cladfigureintoprominence，showingthegleamoftheblackeyes，andfixingthestarsthatlayinthem。

WithoutawordIthrewopenthewindow，and，takingthewhitehandextendedtome，drewintotheroomtheLadyoftheShroud。

Assheenteredandfeltthewarmthoftheblazingfire，agladlookspreadoverherface。Shemadeamovementasiftoruntoit。Butshedrewbackaninstantafter，lookingroundwithinstinctivecaution。Sheclosedthewindowandboltedit，touchedtheleverwhichspreadthegrilleacrosstheopening，andpulledclosethecurtainbehindit。Thenshewentswiftlytothedoorandtriedifitwaslocked。Satisfiedastothis，shecamequicklyovertothefire，and，kneelingbeforeit，stretchedouthernumbedhandstotheblaze。

Almostontheinstantherwetshroudbegantosteam。Istoodwondering。Theprecautionsofsecrecyinthemidstofhersuffering—

—forthatshedidsufferwasonlytoopainfullymanifest——musthavepresupposedsomedanger。ThenandtheremymindwasmadeupthatthereshouldnoharmassailherthatIbyanymeanscouldfendoff。

Still，thepresentmustbeattendedto；pneumoniaandotherillsstalkedbehindsuchachillasmustinfalliblycomeonherunlessprecautionsweretaken。Itookagainthedressing—gownwhichshehadwornbeforeandhandedittoher，motioningasIdidsotowardsthescreenwhichhadmadeadressing—roomforherontheformeroccasion。

Tomysurpriseshehesitated。Iwaited。Shewaited，too，andthenlaiddownthedressing—gownontheedgeofthestonefender。SoI

spoke：

"Won’tyouchangeasyoudidbefore？Your——yourfrockcanthenbedried。Do！Itwillbesomuchsaferforyoutobedrycladwhenyouresumeyourowndress。"

"HowcanIwhilstyouarehere？"

Herwordsmademestare，sodifferentweretheyfromheractsoftheothervisit。Isimplybowed——speechonsuchasubjectwouldbeatleastinadequate——andwalkedovertothewindow。Passingbehindthecurtain，Iopenedthewindow。Beforesteppingoutontotheterrace，Ilookedintotheroomandsaid：

"Takeyourowntime。Thereisnohurry。Idaresayyouwillfindthereallyoumaywant。Ishallremainontheterraceuntilyousummonme。"WiththatIwentoutontheterrace，drawingclosetheglassdoorbehindme。

Istoodlookingoutonthedrearysceneforwhatseemedaveryshorttime，mymindinawhirl。Therecamearustlefromwithin，andIsawadarkbrownfigurestealroundtheedgeofthecurtain。Awhitehandwasraised，andbeckonedmetocomein。Ientered，boltingthewindowbehindme。Shehadpassedacrosstheroom，andwasagainkneelingbeforethefirewithherhandsoutstretched。Theshroudwaslaidinpartiallyopenedfoldsononesideofthehearth，andwassteamingheavily。Ibroughtoversomecushionsandpillows，andmadealittlepileofthembesideher。

"Sitthere，"Isaid，"andrestquietlyintheheat。"Itmayhavebeentheeffectoftheglowingheat，buttherewasarichcolourinherfaceasshelookedatmewithshiningeyes。Withoutaword，butwithacourteouslittlebow，shesatdownatonce。Iputathickrugacrosshershoulders，andsatdownmyselfonastoolacoupleoffeetaway。

Forfullyfiveorsixminuteswesatinsilence。Atlast，turningherheadtowardsmeshesaidinasweet，lowvoice：

"Ihadintendedcomingearlieronpurposetothankyouforyourverysweetandgraciouscourtesytome，butcircumstancesweresuchthatI

couldnotleavemy——my"——shehesitatedbeforesaying——"myabode。I

amnotfree，asyouandothersare，todowhatIwill。Myexistenceissadlycoldandstern，andfullofhorrorsthatappal。ButIDO

thankyou。FormyselfIamnotsorryforthedelay，foreveryhourshowsmemoreclearlyhowgoodandunderstandingandsympatheticyouhavebeentome。Ionlyhopethatsomedayyoumayrealizehowkindyouhavebeen，andhowmuchIappreciateit。"

"Iamonlytoogladtobeofanyservice，"Isaid，feeblyIfelt，asIheldoutmyhand。Shedidnotseemtoseeit。Hereyeswerenowonthefire，andawarmblushdyedforeheadandcheekandneck。Thereproofwassogentlethatnoonecouldhavebeenoffended。Itwasevidentthatshewassomethingcoyandreticent，andwouldnotallowmetocomeatpresentmoreclosetoher，eventothetouchingofherhand。Butthatherheartwasnotinthedenialwasalsoevidentintheglancefromhergloriousdarkstarryeyes。Theseglances——

veritablelightningflashescomingthroughherpronouncedreserve——

finishedentirelyanywaveringtheremightbeinmyownpurpose。I

wasawarenowtothefullthatmyheartwasquitesubjugated。IknewthatIwasinlove——veritablysomuchinloveastofeelthatwithoutthiswoman，beshewhatshemight，bymysidemyfuturemustbeabsolutelybarren。

Itwaspresentlyapparentthatshedidnotmeantostayaslongonthisoccasionasonthelast。Whenthecastleclockstruckmidnightshesuddenlysprangtoherfeetwithabound，saying：

"Imustgo！Thereismidnight！"Iroseatonce，theintensityofherspeechhavinginstantlyobliteratedthesleepwhich，undertheinfluenceofrestandwarmth，wascreepinguponme。Oncemoreshewasinafrenzyofhaste，soIhurriedtowardsthewindow，butasI

lookedbacksawher，despiteherhaste，stillstanding。Imotionedtowardsthescreen，andslippingbehindthecurtain，openedthewindowandwentoutontheterrace。AsIwasdisappearingbehindthecurtainIsawherwiththetailofmyeyeliftingtheshroud，nowdry，fromthehearth。

Shewasoutthroughthewindowinanincrediblyshorttime，nowclothedoncemoreinthatdreadfulwrapping。Asshespedpastmebarefootedonthewet，chillymarblewhichmadehershudder，shewhispered：

"Thankyouagain。YouAREgoodtome。Youcanunderstand。"

OnceagainIstoodontheterrace，sawhermeltlikeashadowdownthesteps，anddisappearbehindthenearestshrub。Thencesheflittedawayfrompointtopointwithexceedinghaste。Themoonlighthadnowdisappearedbehindheavybanksofcloud，sotherewaslittlelighttoseeby。Icouldjustdistinguishapalegleamhereandthereasshewendedhersecretway。

ForalongtimeIstoodtherealonethinking，asIwatchedthecourseshehadtaken，andwonderingwheremightbeherultimatedestination。

Asshehadspokenofher"abode，"Iknewtherewassomedefinitiveobjectiveofherflight。

Itwasnousewondering。IwassoentirelyignorantofhersurroundingsthatIhadnotevenastarting—placeforspeculation。

SoIwentin，leavingthewindowopen。Itseemedthatthisbeingsomadeonebarrierthelessbetweenus。Igatheredthecushionsandrugsfrombeforethefire，whichwasnolongerleaping，butburningwithasteadyglow，andputthembackintheirplaces。AuntJanetmightcomeinthemorning，asshehaddonebefore，andIdidnotwishtosetherthinking。Sheismuchtoocleverapersontohavetreadingontheheelsofamystery——especiallyoneinwhichmyownaffectionsareengaged。Iwonderwhatshewouldhavesaidhadsheseenmekissthecushiononwhichmybeautifulguest’sheadhadrested？

WhenIwasinbed，andinthedarksaveforthefadingglowofthefire，mythoughtsbecamefixedthatwhethershecamefromEarthorHeavenorHell，mylovelyvisitorwasalreadymoretomethanaughtelseintheworld。Thistimeshehad，ongoing，saidnowordofreturning。Ihadbeensomuchtakenupwithherpresence，andsoupsetbyherabruptdeparture，thatIhadomittedtoaskher。AndsoIamdriven，asbefore，toacceptthechanceofherreturning——achancewhichIfearIamormaybeunabletocontrol。

SurelyenoughAuntJanetdidcomeinthemorning，early。Iwasstillasleepwhensheknockedatmydoor。WiththatpurelyphysicalsubconsciousnesswhichcomeswithhabitImusthaverealizedthecauseofthesound，forIwokefullyconsciousofthefactthatAuntJanethadknockedandwaswaitingtocomein。Ijumpedfrombed，andbackagainwhenIhadunlockedthedoor。WhenAuntJanetcameinshenoticedthecoldoftheroom。

"Saveus，laddie，butye’llgetyourdeatho’coldinthisroom。"

Then，asshelookedroundandnoticedtheashesoftheextinctfireinthegrate：

"Eh，butye’renothatdaftaftera’；ye’vehadthesensetolightyerfire。GladIamthatwehadthefirelaidandawheeno’drylogsreadytoyerhand。"Sheevidentlyfeltthecoldaircomingfromthewindow，forshewentoveranddrewthecurtain。Whenshesawtheopenwindow，sheraisedherhandsinasortofdismay，whichtome，knowinghowlittlebaseforconcerncouldbewithinherknowledge，wascomic。Hurriedlysheshutthewindow，andthen，comingcloseovertomybed，said：

"Yonhasbeenafearsomenichtagain，laddie，foryerpoorauldaunty。"

"Dreamingagain，AuntJanet？"Iasked——ratherflippantlyasitseemedtome。Sheshookherhead：

"Notso，Rupert，unlessitbethattheLordgiesusindreamswhatweinourspiritualdarknessthinkareveesions。"Irousedupatthis。

WhenAuntJanetcallsmeRupert，asshealwaysusedtodoinmydearmother’stime，thingsareseriouswithher。AsIwasbackinchildhoodnow，recalledbyherword，IthoughtthebestthingIcoulddotocheerherwouldbetobringherbacktheretoo——ifIcould。SoIpattedtheedgeofthebedasIusedtodowhenIwasaweekiddieandwantedhertocomfortme，andsaid：

"Sitdown，AuntJanet，andtellme。"Sheyieldedatonce，andthelookofthehappyolddaysgrewoverherfaceasthoughtherehadcomeagleamofsunshine。Shesatdown，andIputoutmyhandsasI

usedtodo，andtookherhandbetweenthem。Therewasatearinhereyeassheraisedmyhandandkisseditasinoldtimes。Butfortheinfinitepathosofit，itwouldhavebeencomic：

AuntJanet，oldandgrey—haired，butstillretaininghergirlishslimnessoffigure，petite，daintyasaDresdenfigure，herfacelinedwiththecareofyears，butsoftenedandennobledbytheunselfishnessofthoseyears，holdingupmybighand，whichwouldoutweighherwholearm；sittingdaintyasaprettyoldfairybesidearecumbentgiant——formybulkneverseemssogreataswhenIamnearthisreallittlegoodfairyofmylife——sevenfeetbesidefourfeetseven。

Soshebeganasofold，asthoughshewereabouttosootheafrightenedchildwithafairytale：

"’Twasaveesion，Ithink，thoughadreamitmayhaebeen。Butwhicheverorwhateveritwas，itconcernedmylittleboy，whohasgrowntobeabiggiant，somuchthatIwokeallofatremble。

Laddiedear，IthoughtthatIsawyebeingmarried。"Thisgavemeanopening，thoughasmallone，forcomfortingher，soItookitatonce：

"Why，dear，thereisn’tanythingtoalarmyouinthat，isthere？Itwasonlytheotherdaywhenyouspoketomeabouttheneedofmygettingmarried，ifitwasonlythatyoumighthavechildrenofyourboyplayingaroundyourkneesastheirfatherusedtodowhenhewasahelplessweechildhimself。"

"Thatisso，laddie，"sheansweredgravely。"Butyourweddin’wasnonesomerryasIfainwouldsee。True，youseemedtolo’eherwi’

allyerhairt。Yereyesshonethatbrightthatyemightha’setherafire，forallherblacklocksandherwinsomeface。But，laddie，thatwasnotall——no，notthoughherblackeen，thathadthelichto’

allthestarso’nichtinthem，shoneinyoursasthoughahairto’

lovean’passion，too，dweltinthem。Isawyejoinhands，an’heardastrangevoicethattalkedstrangerstill，butIsawnoneither。

Youreyesan’hereyes，an’yourhandan’hers，wereallIsaw。Forallelsewasdim，andthedarknesswasclosearoundyetwa。Andwhenthebenisonwasspoken——Iknewthatbythevoicesthatsang，andbythegladnessofhereen，aswellasbytheprideandgloryofyours——

thelichtbegantoglowaweemore，an’Icouldseeyerbride。Shewasinaveilo’wondrousfinelace。Andtherewereorange—flowersinherhair，thoughthereweretwigs，too，andtherewasacrowno’

flowersonheadwi’agoldenbandroundit。Andtheheathencandlesthatstoodonthetablewi’theBookhadsomestrangeeffect，forthereflexo’ithungintheairo’erherheadliketheshadowofacrown。Therewasagoldringonherfingerandasilveroneonyours。"Hereshepausedandtrembled，sothat，hopingtodispelherfears，Isaid，aslikeasIcouldtothewayIusedtowhenIwasachild：