PREPARATIONS FOR A FAST AND OTHER SADNESS

As the sharing of a cruel or unworthy secret must be the most terrible of all human relationships, the sharing of a beautiful secret is the most blest.  Thus, for the week following this day of days, Theophil and Isabel went about their daily lives with all heaven in their hearts, and, divided though they were, possessed by a mystical certitude of inner union which they felt no extension of space or endurance of time could destroy.

Such a marriage as theirs is, of course, the dream of all separated lovers, “the love that waited and in waiting died” the theme of many poets; and there have been great historic love-stories to prove such love a possibility of human hearts; yet, alas! for the experiment that must so often fail, for the weak wills of loving that will so truly and yet must loose their holds,—­the fire that promised itself food in memory for a thousand years, but needs the sensual fuel of sight and touch after all; the love that believed it could go on trusting through centuries of silence, yet dies at last of little earthly doubts!

For this tremendous fast which you are to make believe a feast, trust in each other is the one condition that may avail.  This trust must come of no mere exchange of vow or deeply-sworn and eloquent promise; it must be knowledge one heart of the other, clear and absolute; and such knowledge in your short hour of revelation you must have learned so passionately that, like poetry learnt in childhood, it is henceforth no longer a forgettable, detachable part of your mind’s furniture, but a well-spring of instinct for ever.  Is your lady true?  You will ask that only when you ask:  Is she beautiful?

Such confidence as this is comparatively common in friendship, but it is very rare in love:  whether it was to be justified in the case of Isabel and Theophil, time alone could show.  Meanwhile they felt calm and happy, as only two can feel who have discovered in each other the one unchanging reality in a world of flowing shadow.

It was very wonderful, in quite a new way, to meet again.  Their love was no longer hunger and unrest, it had gained the impassioned peace of great accepted realities.  It was married love now.  As the quiet firm hands held each other again, there seemed to be long retrospects of tried and tender intercourse in their very touch.  Their eyes held a past in them as well as a future.  There was no hurry of the emotions now, no reason for haste in the seeking and giving of tenderness, no need to snatch and clutch the good gifts of love as though there was but a short day for the giving.  Their love had grown conscious of its eternity.

It held but one lasting sadness,—­that it might not be revealed to Jenny.  So little did they regard their love as one essentially for concealment, that the temptation to include Jenny in their bond was at moments a danger.  It was so beautiful, and actually, though unconsciously, she was so integral a part of its beauty.