‘But the school?’

’I shall not consider that we are malefactors.  We have the world against us.  It will not keep us from trying to serve it.  And there are hints of humaner opinions; it’s not all a huge rolling block of a Juggernaut.  Our case could be pleaded before it.  I don’t think the just would condemn us heavily.  I shall have to ask you to strengthen me, complete me.  If you love me, it is your leap out of prison, and without you, I am from this time no better than one-third of a man.  I trust you to weigh the position you lose, and the place we choose to take in the world.  It ’s this—­I think this describes it.  You know the man who builds his house below the sea’s level has a sleepless enemy always threatening.  His house must be firm and he must look to the dykes.  We commit this indiscretion.  With a world against us, our love and labour are constantly on trial; we must have great hearts, and if the world is hostile we are not to blame it.  In the nature of things it could not be otherwise.  My own soul, we have to see that we do—­though not publicly, not insolently, offend good citizenship.  But we believe—­I with my whole faith, and I may say it of you—­that we are not offending Divine law.  You are the woman I can help and join with; think whether you can tell yourself that I am the man.  So, then, our union gives us powers to make amends to the world, if the world should grant us a term of peace for the effort.  That is our risk; consider it, Aminta, between now and tomorrow; deliberate.  We don’t go together into a garden of roses.’

‘I know.  I should feel shame.  I wish it to look dark,’ said Aminta, her hand in his, and yet with a fair-sailing mind on the stream of the blood.

Rationally and irrationally, the mixed passion and reason in two clear heads and urgent hearts discussed the stand they made before a world defied, neither of them quite perceiving what it was which coloured reason to beauty, or what so convinced their intellects when passion spoke the louder.

‘I am to have a mate.’

‘She will pray she may be one.’

‘She is my first love.’

Aminta’s lips formed ‘mine,’ without utterance.

Meanwhile his hand or a wizardry subdued her will, allured her body.  She felt herself being drawn to the sign and seal of their plighting for life.  She said, ‘Matthew,’ softly in protest; and he said, ’Never once yet!’ She was owing to his tenderness.  Her deepened voice murmured:  ‘Is this to deliberate?’ Colour flooded the beautiful dark face, as of the funeral hues of a sun suffusing all the heavens; firing earth.

CHAPTER XXIX

AMINTA TO HER LORD