“Nay, Godwin, I knew it not; indeed, I thought that, as it used to be, your heart was other—­where.”

“Other—­where?  What lady—?”

“Nay, no lady; but in your dreams.”

“Dreams?  Dreams of what?”

“I cannot say.  Perchance of things that are not here—­things higher than the person of a poor maid.”

“Cousin, in part you are right, for it is not only the maid whom I love, but her spirit also.  Oh, in truth, you are to me a dream—­a symbol of all that is noble, high and pure.  In you and through you, Rosamund, I worship the heaven I hope to share with you.”

“A dream?  A symbol?  Heaven?  Are not these glittering garments to hang about a woman’s shape?  Why, when the truth came out you would find her but a skull in a jewelled mask, and learn to loath her for a deceit that was not her own, but yours.  Godwin, such trappings as your imagination pictures could only fit an angel’s face.”

“They fit a face that will become an angel’s.”

“An angel’s?  How know you?  I am half an Eastern; the blood runs warm in me at times.  I, too, have my thoughts and visions.  I think that I love power and imagery and the delights of life—­a different life from this.  Are you sure, Godwin, that this poor face will be an angel’s?”

“I wish I were as sure of other things.  At least I’ll risk it.”

“Think of your soul, Godwin.  It might be tarnished.  You would not risk that for me, would you?”

He thought.  Then answered: 

“No; since your soul is a part of mine, and I would not risk yours, Rosamund.”

“I like you for that answer,” she said.  “Yes; more than for all you have said before, because I know that it is true.  Indeed, you are an honourable knight, and I am proud—­very proud—­that you should love me, though perhaps it would have been better otherwise.”  And ever so little she bent the knee to him.

“Whatever chances, in life or death those words will make me happy, Rosamund.”

Suddenly she caught his arm.  “Whatever chances?  Ah! what is about to chance?  Great things, I think, for you and Wulf and me.  Remember, I am half an Eastern, and we children of the East can feel the shadow of the future before it lays its hands upon us and becomes the present.  I fear it, Godwin—­I tell you that I fear it.”

“Fear it not, Rosamund.  Why should you fear?  On God’s knees lies the scroll of our lives, and of His purposes.  The words we see and the words we guess may be terrible, but He who wrote it knows the end of the scroll, and that it is good.  Do not fear, therefore, but read on with an untroubled heart, taking no thought for the morrow.”

She looked at him wonderingly, and asked,

“Are these the words of a wooer or of a saint in wooer’s weeds?  I know not, and do you know yourself?  But you say you love me and that you would wed me, and I believe it; also that the woman whom Godwin weds will be fortunate, since such men are rare.  But I am forbid to answer till to-morrow.  Well, then I will answer as I am given grace.  So till then be what you were of old, and—­the snow has ceased; guide me home, my cousin Godwin.”