The outer darkness seemed to have crowded itself through the low doorway to fill the groined arches with gloom.
"Where must we go to, Dowie ?" Robin whispered holding to the warm, stout arm.
"Don't be timid, my dearie," Dowie whispered back.

"His lordship will be ready for us now we've come." His lordship was ready.

He came forward to meet them and when he did so, Robin knew--though he seemed to be part of the dimness and to come out of a dream--that she need feel no further uncertainties or fears.

That which was to take place would move forward without let or hindrance to its end.

That was what one always felt in his presence.
In a few minutes they were standing in a part of the church which would have seemed darker than any other shadow-filled corner but that a dim light burned on a small altar and a clergyman whose white vestments made him look wraithlike and very tall waited before it and after a few moments of solemn silence began to read from the prayer book he held in his hand.
There were strange passings and repassings through Robin's mind as she made her low responses--memories of the hours when she had asked herself if she were still alive--if she were not dead as Donal was, but walking about without having found it out.