He could have cried aloud in his joy and triumph.

“My wife, my wife, my wife!  O blessed, blessed thought!  For her sake I will achieve all, I will dare all, I will win all.  I have talents—­they have told me so; I will use them might and main to win myself fame and renown.  I have friends; they will help me.  Has not Cole spoken ofttimes of what he hoped to do for me in the matter of some appointment later on, when my studies shall be finished here?  I have a modest fortune—­not great wealth; but it will suffice for the foundation on which to build.  Oh yes, fortune smiles sweetly and kindly upon me, and I will succeed for her sweet sake as well as for mine own.

“My Freda! my star! my pearl amongst women!  How can it be that she loves me?  Oh, it is a beautiful and gracious thing!  And truly do I believe that it is our faith which has drawn us together; for do we not both believe in the right of free conscience for every man, and the liberty to read for himself, and in his own tongue, the words of the holy Book of Life?  Do we not both long for the day when greed and corruption shall be banished from the church we both love, and she shall appear as a chaste virgin, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, meet for the royal Bridegroom who waits for her, that He may present her spotless before His Father’s throne?”

Dalaber was quoting unconsciously from an address recently delivered in Dr. Randall’s house by Clarke to a select audience, who loved to listen to his words of hope and devotion.  Clarke’s spirit at such times would seem to soar into the heavenlies, and to uplift thither the hearts of all who heard him.  He spoke not of strife and warfare; he railed not against the prevailing abuses, as did others; he ever spoke of the church as the Holy Mother, the beloved of the Lord, the spouse of Christ; and prayed to see her purified and cleansed of all the defilement which had gathered upon her during her pilgrimage in this world, after the departure of her Lord into the heavens, that she might be fit and ready for her espousals in the fulness of time, her eyes ever fixed upon her living Head in the heavens, not upon earthly potentates or even spiritual rulers on this earth, but ever waiting and watching for His coming, who would raise her in glory and immortality to sit at His right hand for evermore.

Anthony had heard this discourse, and had been fired by it, and had seen how Freda’s eyes kindled, and how her breath came and went in the passion of her spiritual exaltation.  They were drawn ever closer and more closely together by their sympathy in these holy hopes and aspirations, and her heart had gradually become his, she hardly knew when or how.

But the troth plight had been given.  Dalaber could have sung aloud in the gladness of his heart.  She was his own, his very own; and what a life they would live together!  No cloud should ever touch their happiness, or mar their perfect concord.  They were one in body, soul, and spirit, and nothing could come between them since they had so united their lives in one.