"Oh, if Thou livest," he said, "and living, knowest; and knowing, carest; grant me a sign of Thy nearness--a Vision of Life and of Love, which shall make clear this mist of uncertainty." Turning back to his work, so great a load seemed lifted from his heart, that he found himself singing as he put a keener edge on his weapons.
Presently he went over to the corner where stood the silver shield.
Hitherto he had kept his eyes turned from it.

It called up thoughts which he had striven to beat back.

Now, he set to work and polished it until its surface shone clear as a mirror.
And as he worked, he thought within himself: "What said the Bishop?
That I saw reflected in my silver shield naught save mine own proud face?
But I told my wife that I see there the face of God, or the nearest I know to His face; and, behind Him, her face--the face of my beloved; for, had I not put reverence and honour first, my very love for her would have been tarnished." Hugh stood the silver shield at such an angle as that it reflected the sunset, yet as he kneeled upon one knee before it he could not see his own reflection.
The sun, round and blood red, almost dipping below the horizon, shone out in crimson glory from the deepest heart of the silver.
Hugh remembered two verses of a Hebrew poem which the Rabbi used to recite at sunset.

"The Lord God is a Sun and Shield: The Lord will give Grace and Glory; No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

O Lord of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee." His eyes upon the shield, his hands clasped around his knee, Hugh said, softly: "The face of God, my beloved, or the nearest I know to His face: and behind Him, thy face"---- And then his voice fell of a sudden silent; his heart beat in his throat, his fingers gripped his knee; for something moved softly in the shining surface, and there looked out at him from his own silver shield, the face of the woman he loved.
How long he kneeled and gazed without stirring, Hugh could not tell.
At that moment life paused suspended, and he ceased to be conscious of time.