of life as we had found it, and what it promised us — of death, if we must find it here in these woods before I made her mine. And of how long was the spirit’s trail to God — if truly it were but a swift, upward flight like to the rushing of an arrow already flashing out of sight ere the twanging buzz of the bow-string died on the air. Or if it were perhaps a long, slow, painful journey through thick night, toilsome, blindly groping, wings adroop trailing against bruised heels. Or if we two must pass by hell, within sight and hearing of the thunderous darkness, and feel the rushing wind of the pit hot on one’s face.

Sometimes, like a very child, she prattled of happiness, which she had never experienced, but meant to savour, wedded or not — talked to me there of all she had never known and