And tell me,—­tell me, you,—­what happened then? 
What do you see?

BARBARA
Ah!—­
[She looks before her with wide, new eyes.]

PIPER
  Do you see—­a—­

BARBARA
  . . .Michael!

PIPER
So!—­And a good one.  And you call him?

BARBARA
  . . .  Michael.

PIPER
So.—­’Tis a world of wonders, by my faith!—­
What is the fairest thing you see but—­

BARBARA
  Michael.

PIPER
And is he comely as a man should be? 
And strong?—­And wears good promise in his eyes,
And keeps it with his heart and with his hands?
[She nods like a child]
And would you fear to go with him?—­

BARBARA
  No, no!

PIPER
Then reach to him that little hand of yours.

[MICHAEL, wonder-struck, runs to the jar, pours water upon his hand, rubs it off with haste, and falls on his knees before her, taking her hand fearfully.

BARBARA
[timidly]
And can he talk?—­

PIPER
Yes, yes.—­The maid’s bewildered. 
Fear nothing.  Thou’rt so dumb, man!—­Yes, yes, yes. 
Only he kneels; he cannot yet believe. 
Speak roundly to him.—­Will you go with him? 
He will be gentler to you than a father: 
He would be brothers five, and dearest friend,
And sweetheart,—­ay, and knight and serving-man!

BARBARA
Yes, yes, I know he will.  And can he talk, too?

PIPER
Lady, you have bewitched him.

MICHAEL
  Oh! dear Lady,
With you—­with you, I dare not ope my mouth
Saving to sing, or pray!

PIPER
  Let it be singing! 
Lad, ’t is a wildered maiden, with no home
Save only thee; and she is more a child
Than yesterday.

MICHAEL
  Oh, lordly, wondrous world!—­
How is it, Sweet, you smile upon me now?

BARBARA
Sure I have ever smiled on thee.  How not? 
Art thou not Michael?—­And thou lovest me.
And I love thee!—­If I unloved thee ever,
It was some spell.—­
[Rapturously]
  But this,—­ah, This is I!
[MICHAEL, on his knees, winds his arms about her.

PIPER
[softly]
It is all true,—­all true.  Lad, do not doubt;
The golden cage is broken.

MICHAEL
  Oh! more strange
Than morning dreams!  I am like one new-born;
I am a speechless babe.—­And this is she,
My Moon I cried for,—­here,—­

PIPER
  It is thy bride.

MICHAEL
Thou wilt not fear to come with me?

BARBARA
With thee? 
With thee!  Ah, look!  What have I more than thee? 
And thou art mine, tall fellow!  How comes it now
Right happily that I am pranked so fair!
[She touches her fineries, her long pearl-strings, joyously]
And all this came so near to burying;
This!

MICHAEL
  And this dearer gold.
[Kissing her hair.]

BARBARA
  All, all for thee!—­
[She leans over in a playful rapture and
binds her hair about him]
Look,—­I will be thy garden that we lost,
Yea, everywhere,—­in every wilderness. 
There shall none fright us with a flaming sword! 
But I will be thy garden!