Come what may, I am pledged to you.
If it be that your old life has to be rewon for you out of the very jaws of Death and Hell, I shall keep the faith I have pledged, and that here I pledge again!" As I finished speaking I sank on my knees at her feet, and, putting my arms round her, drew her close to me.

Her tears rained down on my face as she stroked my hair with her soft, strong hand and whispered to me: "This is indeed to be one.

What more holy marriage can God give to any of His creatures ?" We were both silent for a time.
I think I was the first to recover my senses.

That I did so was manifest by my asking her: "When may we meet again ?"--a thing I had never remembered doing at any of our former partings.

She answered with a rising and falling of the voice that was just above a whisper, as soft and cooing as the voice of a pigeon: "That will be soon--as soon as I can manage it, be sure.