The woman of whom he dreamed, whom he had loved so faithfully and sought so long, was very near him.

A word from Unorna and Beatrice could come and find him as he lay asleep, and herself open the dear eyes.
Was that sacrifice to be asked of her before she was taken away to the expiation of her sins?
Fate could not be so very cruel--and yet the mere idea was an added suffering.

The longer she looked at him the more the possibility grew and tortured her.
After all, it was almost certain that they would meet now, and at the meeting she felt sure that all his memory would return.

Why should she do anything, why should she raise her hand, to bring them to each other?
It was too much to ask.

Was it not enough that both were free, and both in the same city together, and that she had vowed neither to hurt nor hinder them?
If it was their destiny to be joined together it would so happen surely in the natural course; if not, was it her part to join them?
The punishment of her sins, whatever it should be, she could bear; but this thing she could not do.
She passed her hand across her eyes as though to drive it away, and her thoughts came back to the point from which they had started.