RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
April16，1907。
TheonlyreliefIhavehadfromthehauntinganxietyregardingtheLadyoftheShroudhasbeeninthetroubledstateofmyadoptedcountry。TherehasevidentlybeensomethingupwhichIhavenotbeenallowedtoknow。Themountaineersaretroubledandrestless；arewanderingabout，singlyandinparties，andholdingmeetingsinstrangeplaces。ThisiswhatIgatherusedtobeinolddayswhenintrigueswereonfootwithTurks，Greeks，Austrians，Italians，Russians。Thisconcernsmevitally，formymindhaslongbeenmadeuptosharethefortunesoftheLandoftheBlueMountains。ForgoodorillImeantostayhere：J’ysuis，j’yreste。IsharehenceforththelotoftheBlueMountaineers；andnotTurkey，norGreece，norAustria，norItaly，norRussia——no，notFrancenorGermanyeither；
notmannorGodnorDevilshalldrivemefrommypurpose。WiththesepatriotsIthrowinmylot！Myonlydifficultyseemedatfirsttobewiththementhemselves。TheyaresoproudthatatthebeginningI
fearedtheywouldnotevenaccordmethehonourofbeingoneofthem！
However，thingsalwaysmoveonsomehow，nomatterwhatdifficultiestherebeatthebeginning。Nevermind！Whenonelooksbackatanaccomplishedfactthebeginningisnottobeseen——andifitwereitwouldnotmatter。Itisnotofanyaccount，anyhow。
Iheardthattherewasgoingtobeagreatmeetingnearhereyesterdayafternoon，andIattendedit。Ithinkitwasasuccess。
Ifsuchisanyproof，IfeltelatedaswellassatisfiedwhenIcameaway。AuntJanet’sSecondSightonthesubjectwascomforting，thoughgrim，andinameasuredisconcerting。WhenIwassayinggood—
nightsheaskedmetobenddownmyhead。AsIdidso，shelaidherhandsonitandpassedthemalloverit。Iheardhersaytoherself：
\"Strange！There’snothingthere；yetIcouldhaveswornIsawit！\"
Iaskedhertoexplain，butshewouldnot。Foronceshewasalittleobstinate，andrefusedpointblanktoeventalkofthesubject。Shewasnotworriednorunhappy；soIhadnocauseforconcern。Isaidnothing，butIshallwaitandsee。Mostmysteriesbecomeplainordisappearaltogetherintime。Butaboutthemeeting——lestIforget！
WhenIjoinedthemountaineerswhohadassembled，Ireallythinktheyweregladtoseeme；thoughsomeofthemseemedadverse，andothersdidnotseemoverwellsatisfied。However，absoluteunityisveryseldomtobefound。Indeed，itisalmostimpossible；andinafreecommunityisnotaltogethertobedesired。Whenitisapparent，thegatheringlacksthatsenseofindividualfeelingwhichmakesfortherealconsensusofopinion——whichistherealunityofpurpose。Themeetingwasatfirst，therefore，alittlecoldanddistant。Butpresentlyitbegantothaw，andaftersomefieryharanguesIwasaskedtospeak。Happily，IhadbeguntolearntheBalkanlanguageassoonaseverUncleRoger’swisheshadbeenmadeknowntome，andasI
havesomefacilityoftonguesandagreatdealofexperience，Isoonbegantoknowsomethingofit。Indeed，whenIhadbeenhereafewweeks，withopportunityofspeakingdailywiththepeoplethemselves，andlearnedtounderstandtheintonationsandvocalinflexions，I
feltquiteeasyinspeakingit。Iunderstoodeverywordwhichhaduptothenbeenspokenatthemeeting，andwhenIspokemyselfIfeltthattheyunderstood。Thatisanexperiencewhicheveryspeakerhasinacertainwayanduptoacertainpoint。Heknowsbysomekindofinstinctifhishearersarewithhim；iftheyrespond，theymustcertainlyhaveunderstood。Lastnightthiswasmarked。IfeltiteveryinstantIwastalkingandwhenIcametorealizethatthemenwereinstrictaccordwithmygeneralviews，Itookthemintoconfidencewithregardtomyownpersonalpurpose。Itwasthebeginningofamutualtrust；soforperorationItoldthemthatIhadcometotheconclusionthatwhattheywantedmostfortheirownprotectionandthesecurityandconsolidationoftheirnationwasarms——armsoftheverylatestpattern。Heretheyinterruptedmewithwildcheers，whichsostrungmeupthatIwentfartherthanI
intended，andmadeadaringventure。\"Ay，\"Irepeated，\"thesecurityandconsolidationofyourcountry——ofOURcountry，forIhavecometoliveamongstyou。HereismyhomewhilstIlive。Iamwithyouheartandsoul。Ishalllivewithyou，fightshouldertoshoulderwithyou，and，ifneedbe，shalldiewithyou！\"Heretheshoutingwasterrific，andtheyoungermenraisedtheirgunstofireasaluteinBlueMountainfashion。ButontheinstanttheVladika{1}helduphishandsandmotionedthemtodesist。Intheimmediatesilencehespoke，sharplyatfirst，butlaterascendingtoahighpitchofsingle—minded，loftyeloquence。Hiswordsranginmyearslongafterthemeetingwasoverandotherthoughtshadcomebetweenthemandthepresent。
\"Silence！\"hethundered。\"Makenoechoesintheforestorthroughthehillsatthisdiretimeofstressandthreateneddangertoourland。Bethinkyeofthismeeting，heldhereandinsecret，inorderthatnowhisperofitmaybeheardafar。Haveyeall，bravemenoftheBlueMountains，comehitherthroughtheforestlikeshadowsthatsomeofyou，thoughtless，mayenlightenyourenemiesastooursecretpurpose？Thethunderofyourgunswoulddoubtlesssoundwellintheearsofthosewhowishusillandtrytoworkuswrong。Fellow—
countrymen，knowyenotthattheTurkisawakeoncemoreforourharming？TheBureauofSpieshasrisenfromthetorporwhichcameonitwhenthepurposeagainstourTeutarousedourmountainstosuchangerthatthefrontiersblazedwithpassion，andweresweptwithfireandsword。Moreover，thereisatraitorsomewhereintheland，orelseincautiouscarelessnesshasservedthesamebasepurpose。
Somethingofourneeds——ourdoing，whosesecretwehavetriedtohide，hasgoneout。ThemyrmidonsoftheTurkarecloseonourborders，anditmaybethatsomeofthemhavepassedourguardsandareamidstusunknown。Soitbehovesusdoublytobediscreet。
BelievemethatIsharewithyou，mybrothers，ourloveforthegallantEnglishmanwhohascomeamongstustoshareoursorrowsandambitions——andItrustitmaybeourjoys。Weareallunitedinthewishtodohimhonour——thoughnotinthewaybywhichdangermightbecarriedonthewingsoflove。Mybrothers，ournewestbrothercomestousfromtheGreatNationwhichamongstthenationshasbeenouronlyfriend，andwhichhaserenowhelpedusinourdirestneed——thatmightyBritainwhosehandhaseverbeenraisedinthecauseoffreedom。WeoftheBlueMountainsknowherbestasshestandswithswordinhandfacetofacewithourfoes。Andthis，hersonandnowourbrother，bringsfurthertoourneedthehandofagiantandtheheartofalion。Lateron，whendangerdoesnotringusround，whensilenceisnolongerourouterguard；weshallbidhimwelcomeintruefashionofourland。Buttillthenhewillbelieve——forheisgreat—hearted——thatourloveandthanksandwelcomearenottobemeasuredbysound。Whenthetimecomes，thenshallbesoundinhishonour——notofriflesalone，butbellsandcannonandthemightyvoiceofafreepeopleshoutingasone。Butnowwemustbewiseandsilent，fortheTurkisonceagainatourgates。Alas！thecauseofhisformercomingmaynotbe，forshewhosebeautyandnobilityandwhoseplaceinournationandinourheartstemptedhimtofraudandviolenceisnotwithustoshareevenouranxiety。\"
Herehisvoicebroke，andtherearosefromalladeepwailingsound，whichroseandrosetillthewoodsaroundusseemedbrokenbyamightyandlong—sustainedsob。Theoratorsawthathispurposewasaccomplished，andwithashortsentencefinishedhisharangue：\"Buttheneedofournationstillremains！\"Then，withaneloquentgesturetometoproceed，hemergedinthecrowdanddisappeared。
HowcouldIevenattempttofollowsuchaspeakerwithanyhopeofsuccess？IsimplytoldthemwhatIhadalreadydoneinthewayofhelp，saying：
\"Asyouneededarms，Ihavegotthem。Myagentsendsmewordthroughthecodebetweenusthathehasprocuredforme——forus——fiftythousandofthenewest—patternrifles，theFrenchIngis—Malbron，whichhassurpassedallothers，andsufficientammunitiontolastforayearofwar。Thefirstsectionisinhand，andwillsoonbereadyforconsignment。Thereareotherwarmaterials，too，which，whentheyarrive，willenableeverymanandwoman——eventhechildren——ofourlandtotakeapartinitsdefenceshouldsuchbeneeded。Mybrothers，Iamwithyouinallthings，forgoodorill！\"
Itmademeveryproudtohearthemightyshoutwhicharose。Ihadfeltexaltedbefore，butnowthispersonaldevelopmentalmostunmannedme。Iwasgladofthelong—sustainedapplausetorecovermyself—control。
Iwasquitesatisfiedthatthemeetingdidnotwanttohearanyotherspeaker，fortheybegantomeltawaywithoutanyformalnotificationhavingbeengiven。Idoubtiftherewillbeanothermeetingsoonagain。Theweatherhasbeguntobreak，andweareinforanotherspellofrain。Itisdisagreeable，ofcourse；butithasitsowncharm。ItwasduringaspellofwetweatherthattheLadyoftheShroudcametome。Perhapstherainmaybringheragain。Ihopeso，withallmysoul。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
April23，1907。
Therainhascontinuedforfourwholedaysandnights，andthelow—
lyinggroundislikeaquagmireinplaces。Inthesunlightthewholemountainsglistenwithrunningstreamsandfallingwater。Ifeelastrangekindofelation，butfromnovisiblecause。AuntJanetratherqueereditbytellingme，asshesaidgood—night，tobeverycarefulofmyself，asshehadseeninadreamlastnightafigureinashroud。IfearshewasnotpleasedthatIdidnottakeitwithalltheseriousnessthatshedid。IwouldnotwoundherfortheworldifIcouldhelpit，buttheideaofashroudgetstoonearthebonetobesafe，andIhadtofendheroffatallhazards。SowhenIdoubtediftheFatesregardedthevisionaryshroudasofnecessityappertainingtome，shesaid，inawaythatwas，forher，almostsharp：
\"Takecare，laddie。’Tisilljestingwi’thepowerso’timeUnknown。\"
Perhapsitwasthathertalkputthesubjectinmymind。Thewomanneedednosuchaid；shewasalwaysthere；butwhenIlockedmyselfintomyroomthatnight，Ihalfexpectedtofindherintheroom。I
wasnotsleepy，soItookabookofAuntJanet’sandbegantoread。
Thetitlewas\"OnthePowersandQualitiesofDisembodiedSpirits。\"
\"Yourgrammar，\"saidItotheauthor，\"ishardlyattractive，butI
maylearnsomethingwhichmightapplytoher。Ishallreadyourbook。\"Beforesettlingdowntoit，however，IthoughtIwouldhavealookatthegarden。Sincethenightofthevisitthegardenseemedtohaveanewattractivenessforme：anightseldompassedwithoutmyhavingalastlookatitbeforeturningin。SoIdrewthegreatcurtainandlookedout。
Thescenewasbeautiful，butalmostentirelydesolate。Allwasghastlyintheraw，hardgleamsofmoonlightcomingfitfullythroughthemassesofflyingcloud。Thewindwasrising，andtheairwasdampandcold。Ilookedroundtheroominstinctively，andnoticedthatthefirewaslaidreadyforlighting，andthatthereweresmall—
cutlogsofwoodpiledbesidethehearth。EversincethatnightI
havehadafirelaidready。Iwastemptedtolightit，butasI
neverhaveafireunlessIsleepintheopen，Ihesitatedtobegin。
Iwentbacktothewindow，and，openingthecatch，steppedoutontheterrace。AsIlookeddownthewhitewalkandletmyeyesrangeovertheexpanseofthegarden，whereeverythingglistenedasthemoonlightcaughtthewet，Ihalfexpectedtoseesomewhitefigureflittingamongsttheshrubsandstatues。ThewholesceneoftheformervisitcamebacktomesovividlythatIcouldhardlybelievethatanytimehadpassedsincethen。Itwasthesamescene，andagainlateintheevening。LifeinVissarionwasprimitive，andearlyhoursprevailed——thoughnotsolateasonthatnight。
AsIlookedIthoughtIcaughtaglimpseofsomethingwhitefaraway。
Itwasonlyarayofmoonlightcomingthroughtheruggededgeofacloud。Butallthesameitsetmeinastrangestateofperturbation。SomehowIseemedtolosesightofmyownidentity。ItwasasthoughIwashypnotizedbythesituationorbymemory，orperhapsbysomeoccultforce。WithoutthinkingofwhatIwasdoing，orbeingconsciousofanyreasonforit，Icrossedtheroomandsetlighttothefire。ThenIblewoutthecandleandcametothewindowagain。Ineverthoughtitmightbeafoolishthingtodo——tostandatawindowwithalightbehindmeinthiscountry，whereeverymancarriesagunwithhimalways。Iwasinmyeveningclothes，too，withmybreastwellmarkedbyawhiteshirt。Iopenedthewindowandsteppedoutontheterrace。ThereIstoodformanyminutes，thinking。Allthetimemyeyeskeptrangingoverthegarden。OnceI
thoughtIsawawhitefiguremoving，butitwasnotfollowedup，so，becomingconsciousthatitwasagainbeginningtorain，Isteppedbackintotheroom，shutthewindow，anddrewthecurtain。ThenI
realizedthecomfortingappearanceofthefire，andwentoverandstoodbeforeit。
Hark！Oncemoretherewasagentletappingatthewindow。Irushedovertoitanddrewthecurtain。
There，outontherain—beatenterrace，stoodthewhiteshroudedfigure，moredesolate—appearingthanever。Ghastlypaleshelooked，asbefore，buthereyeshadaneagerlookwhichwasnew。Itookitthatshewasattractedbythefire，whichwasbynowwellablaze，andwasthrowingupjetsofflameasthedrylogscrackled。Theleapingflamesthrewfitfullightacrosstheroom，andeverygleamthrewthewhite—cladfigureintoprominence，showingthegleamoftheblackeyes，andfixingthestarsthatlayinthem。
WithoutawordIthrewopenthewindow，and，takingthewhitehandextendedtome，drewintotheroomtheLadyoftheShroud。
Assheenteredandfeltthewarmthoftheblazingfire，agladlookspreadoverherface。Shemadeamovementasiftoruntoit。Butshedrewbackaninstantafter，lookingroundwithinstinctivecaution。Sheclosedthewindowandboltedit，touchedtheleverwhichspreadthegrilleacrosstheopening，andpulledclosethecurtainbehindit。Thenshewentswiftlytothedoorandtriedifitwaslocked。Satisfiedastothis，shecamequicklyovertothefire，and，kneelingbeforeit，stretchedouthernumbedhandstotheblaze。
Almostontheinstantherwetshroudbegantosteam。Istoodwondering。Theprecautionsofsecrecyinthemidstofhersuffering—
—forthatshedidsufferwasonlytoopainfullymanifest——musthavepresupposedsomedanger。ThenandtheremymindwasmadeupthatthereshouldnoharmassailherthatIbyanymeanscouldfendoff。
Still，thepresentmustbeattendedto；pneumoniaandotherillsstalkedbehindsuchachillasmustinfalliblycomeonherunlessprecautionsweretaken。Itookagainthedressing—gownwhichshehadwornbeforeandhandedittoher，motioningasIdidsotowardsthescreenwhichhadmadeadressing—roomforherontheformeroccasion。
Tomysurpriseshehesitated。Iwaited。Shewaited，too，andthenlaiddownthedressing—gownontheedgeofthestonefender。SoI
spoke：
\"Won’tyouchangeasyoudidbefore？Your——yourfrockcanthenbedried。Do！Itwillbesomuchsaferforyoutobedrycladwhenyouresumeyourowndress。\"
\"HowcanIwhilstyouarehere？\"
Herwordsmademestare，sodifferentweretheyfromheractsoftheothervisit。Isimplybowed——speechonsuchasubjectwouldbeatleastinadequate——andwalkedovertothewindow。Passingbehindthecurtain，Iopenedthewindow。Beforesteppingoutontotheterrace，Ilookedintotheroomandsaid：
\"Takeyourowntime。Thereisnohurry。Idaresayyouwillfindthereallyoumaywant。Ishallremainontheterraceuntilyousummonme。\"WiththatIwentoutontheterrace，drawingclosetheglassdoorbehindme。
Istoodlookingoutonthedrearysceneforwhatseemedaveryshorttime，mymindinawhirl。Therecamearustlefromwithin，andIsawadarkbrownfigurestealroundtheedgeofthecurtain。Awhitehandwasraised，andbeckonedmetocomein。Ientered，boltingthewindowbehindme。Shehadpassedacrosstheroom，andwasagainkneelingbeforethefirewithherhandsoutstretched。Theshroudwaslaidinpartiallyopenedfoldsononesideofthehearth，andwassteamingheavily。Ibroughtoversomecushionsandpillows，andmadealittlepileofthembesideher。
\"Sitthere，\"Isaid，\"andrestquietlyintheheat。\"Itmayhavebeentheeffectoftheglowingheat，buttherewasarichcolourinherfaceasshelookedatmewithshiningeyes。Withoutaword，butwithacourteouslittlebow，shesatdownatonce。Iputathickrugacrosshershoulders，andsatdownmyselfonastoolacoupleoffeetaway。
Forfullyfiveorsixminuteswesatinsilence。Atlast，turningherheadtowardsmeshesaidinasweet，lowvoice：
\"Ihadintendedcomingearlieronpurposetothankyouforyourverysweetandgraciouscourtesytome，butcircumstancesweresuchthatI
couldnotleavemy——my\"——shehesitatedbeforesaying——\"myabode。I
amnotfree，asyouandothersare，todowhatIwill。Myexistenceissadlycoldandstern，andfullofhorrorsthatappal。ButIDO
thankyou。FormyselfIamnotsorryforthedelay，foreveryhourshowsmemoreclearlyhowgoodandunderstandingandsympatheticyouhavebeentome。Ionlyhopethatsomedayyoumayrealizehowkindyouhavebeen，andhowmuchIappreciateit。\"
\"Iamonlytoogladtobeofanyservice，\"Isaid，feeblyIfelt，asIheldoutmyhand。Shedidnotseemtoseeit。Hereyeswerenowonthefire，andawarmblushdyedforeheadandcheekandneck。Thereproofwassogentlethatnoonecouldhavebeenoffended。Itwasevidentthatshewassomethingcoyandreticent，andwouldnotallowmetocomeatpresentmoreclosetoher，eventothetouchingofherhand。Butthatherheartwasnotinthedenialwasalsoevidentintheglancefromhergloriousdarkstarryeyes。Theseglances——
veritablelightningflashescomingthroughherpronouncedreserve——
finishedentirelyanywaveringtheremightbeinmyownpurpose。I
wasawarenowtothefullthatmyheartwasquitesubjugated。IknewthatIwasinlove——veritablysomuchinloveastofeelthatwithoutthiswoman，beshewhatshemight，bymysidemyfuturemustbeabsolutelybarren。
Itwaspresentlyapparentthatshedidnotmeantostayaslongonthisoccasionasonthelast。Whenthecastleclockstruckmidnightshesuddenlysprangtoherfeetwithabound，saying：
\"Imustgo！Thereismidnight！\"Iroseatonce，theintensityofherspeechhavinginstantlyobliteratedthesleepwhich，undertheinfluenceofrestandwarmth，wascreepinguponme。Oncemoreshewasinafrenzyofhaste，soIhurriedtowardsthewindow，butasI
lookedbacksawher，despiteherhaste，stillstanding。Imotionedtowardsthescreen，andslippingbehindthecurtain，openedthewindowandwentoutontheterrace。AsIwasdisappearingbehindthecurtainIsawherwiththetailofmyeyeliftingtheshroud，nowdry，fromthehearth。
Shewasoutthroughthewindowinanincrediblyshorttime，nowclothedoncemoreinthatdreadfulwrapping。Asshespedpastmebarefootedonthewet，chillymarblewhichmadehershudder，shewhispered：
\"Thankyouagain。YouAREgoodtome。Youcanunderstand。\"
OnceagainIstoodontheterrace，sawhermeltlikeashadowdownthesteps，anddisappearbehindthenearestshrub。Thencesheflittedawayfrompointtopointwithexceedinghaste。Themoonlighthadnowdisappearedbehindheavybanksofcloud，sotherewaslittlelighttoseeby。Icouldjustdistinguishapalegleamhereandthereasshewendedhersecretway。
ForalongtimeIstoodtherealonethinking，asIwatchedthecourseshehadtaken，andwonderingwheremightbeherultimatedestination。
Asshehadspokenofher\"abode，\"Iknewtherewassomedefinitiveobjectiveofherflight。
Itwasnousewondering。IwassoentirelyignorantofhersurroundingsthatIhadnotevenastarting—placeforspeculation。
SoIwentin，leavingthewindowopen。Itseemedthatthisbeingsomadeonebarrierthelessbetweenus。Igatheredthecushionsandrugsfrombeforethefire，whichwasnolongerleaping，butburningwithasteadyglow，andputthembackintheirplaces。AuntJanetmightcomeinthemorning，asshehaddonebefore，andIdidnotwishtosetherthinking。Sheismuchtoocleverapersontohavetreadingontheheelsofamystery——especiallyoneinwhichmyownaffectionsareengaged。Iwonderwhatshewouldhavesaidhadsheseenmekissthecushiononwhichmybeautifulguest’sheadhadrested？
WhenIwasinbed，andinthedarksaveforthefadingglowofthefire，mythoughtsbecamefixedthatwhethershecamefromEarthorHeavenorHell，mylovelyvisitorwasalreadymoretomethanaughtelseintheworld。Thistimeshehad，ongoing，saidnowordofreturning。Ihadbeensomuchtakenupwithherpresence，andsoupsetbyherabruptdeparture，thatIhadomittedtoaskher。AndsoIamdriven，asbefore，toacceptthechanceofherreturning——achancewhichIfearIamormaybeunabletocontrol。
SurelyenoughAuntJanetdidcomeinthemorning，early。Iwasstillasleepwhensheknockedatmydoor。WiththatpurelyphysicalsubconsciousnesswhichcomeswithhabitImusthaverealizedthecauseofthesound，forIwokefullyconsciousofthefactthatAuntJanethadknockedandwaswaitingtocomein。Ijumpedfrombed，andbackagainwhenIhadunlockedthedoor。WhenAuntJanetcameinshenoticedthecoldoftheroom。
\"Saveus，laddie，butye’llgetyourdeatho’coldinthisroom。\"
Then，asshelookedroundandnoticedtheashesoftheextinctfireinthegrate：
\"Eh，butye’renothatdaftaftera’；ye’vehadthesensetolightyerfire。GladIamthatwehadthefirelaidandawheeno’drylogsreadytoyerhand。\"Sheevidentlyfeltthecoldaircomingfromthewindow，forshewentoveranddrewthecurtain。Whenshesawtheopenwindow，sheraisedherhandsinasortofdismay，whichtome，knowinghowlittlebaseforconcerncouldbewithinherknowledge，wascomic。Hurriedlysheshutthewindow，andthen，comingcloseovertomybed，said：
\"Yonhasbeenafearsomenichtagain，laddie，foryerpoorauldaunty。\"
\"Dreamingagain，AuntJanet？\"Iasked——ratherflippantlyasitseemedtome。Sheshookherhead：
\"Notso，Rupert，unlessitbethattheLordgiesusindreamswhatweinourspiritualdarknessthinkareveesions。\"Irousedupatthis。
WhenAuntJanetcallsmeRupert，asshealwaysusedtodoinmydearmother’stime，thingsareseriouswithher。AsIwasbackinchildhoodnow，recalledbyherword，IthoughtthebestthingIcoulddotocheerherwouldbetobringherbacktheretoo——ifIcould。SoIpattedtheedgeofthebedasIusedtodowhenIwasaweekiddieandwantedhertocomfortme，andsaid：
\"Sitdown，AuntJanet，andtellme。\"Sheyieldedatonce，andthelookofthehappyolddaysgrewoverherfaceasthoughtherehadcomeagleamofsunshine。Shesatdown，andIputoutmyhandsasI
usedtodo，andtookherhandbetweenthem。Therewasatearinhereyeassheraisedmyhandandkisseditasinoldtimes。Butfortheinfinitepathosofit，itwouldhavebeencomic：
AuntJanet，oldandgrey—haired，butstillretaininghergirlishslimnessoffigure，petite，daintyasaDresdenfigure，herfacelinedwiththecareofyears，butsoftenedandennobledbytheunselfishnessofthoseyears，holdingupmybighand，whichwouldoutweighherwholearm；sittingdaintyasaprettyoldfairybesidearecumbentgiant——formybulkneverseemssogreataswhenIamnearthisreallittlegoodfairyofmylife——sevenfeetbesidefourfeetseven。
Soshebeganasofold，asthoughshewereabouttosootheafrightenedchildwithafairytale：
\"’Twasaveesion，Ithink，thoughadreamitmayhaebeen。Butwhicheverorwhateveritwas，itconcernedmylittleboy，whohasgrowntobeabiggiant，somuchthatIwokeallofatremble。
Laddiedear，IthoughtthatIsawyebeingmarried。\"Thisgavemeanopening，thoughasmallone，forcomfortingher，soItookitatonce：
\"Why，dear，thereisn’tanythingtoalarmyouinthat，isthere？Itwasonlytheotherdaywhenyouspoketomeabouttheneedofmygettingmarried，ifitwasonlythatyoumighthavechildrenofyourboyplayingaroundyourkneesastheirfatherusedtodowhenhewasahelplessweechildhimself。\"
\"Thatisso，laddie，\"sheansweredgravely。\"Butyourweddin’wasnonesomerryasIfainwouldsee。True，youseemedtolo’eherwi’
allyerhairt。Yereyesshonethatbrightthatyemightha’setherafire，forallherblacklocksandherwinsomeface。But，laddie，thatwasnotall——no，notthoughherblackeen，thathadthelichto’
allthestarso’nichtinthem，shoneinyoursasthoughahairto’
lovean’passion，too，dweltinthem。Isawyejoinhands，an’heardastrangevoicethattalkedstrangerstill，butIsawnoneither。
Youreyesan’hereyes，an’yourhandan’hers，wereallIsaw。Forallelsewasdim，andthedarknesswasclosearoundyetwa。Andwhenthebenisonwasspoken——Iknewthatbythevoicesthatsang，andbythegladnessofhereen，aswellasbytheprideandgloryofyours——
thelichtbegantoglowaweemore，an’Icouldseeyerbride。Shewasinaveilo’wondrousfinelace。Andtherewereorange—flowersinherhair，thoughthereweretwigs，too，andtherewasacrowno’
flowersonheadwi’agoldenbandroundit。Andtheheathencandlesthatstoodonthetablewi’theBookhadsomestrangeeffect，forthereflexo’ithungintheairo’erherheadliketheshadowofacrown。Therewasagoldringonherfingerandasilveroneonyours。\"Hereshepausedandtrembled，sothat，hopingtodispelherfears，Isaid，aslikeasIcouldtothewayIusedtowhenIwasachild：