"It were hard, indeed, not to have some love in return for such a gift as he hath given thee.

I, too, owe him more than words can speak." Humbled before them, with an aching and desolate heart, I yet could not restrain my words: "Let me, then, be the moon of thy night still, O woman! And when thy day is beclouded, as the fairest days will be, let some song of mine comfort thee, as an old, withered, half-forgotten thing, that belongs to an ancient mournful hour of uncompleted birth, which yet was beautiful in its time." They sat silent, and I almost thought they were listening.

The colour of the lady's eyes grew deeper and deeper; the slow tears grew, and filled them, and overflowed.

They rose, and passed, hand in hand, close to where I stood; and each looked towards me in passing.

Then they disappeared through a door which closed behind them; but, ere it closed, I saw that the room into which it opened was a rich chamber, hung with gorgeous arras.