"
The Knight folded his arms across his breast.
"Go," he said, softly, "and our Lady be with thee. Our spirits
to-night have had their fill of holy happiness. I ask no higher joy
than to watch the breaking of the day which gives thee to me, knowing
thee to be safely sleeping in thy chamber below."
"I love thee!" she whispered; and fled.
Hugh d'Argent watched the dawn break--a silver rift in the purple sky.
His heart was filled with indescribable peace and gladness.
It meant far more to him that his bride should have come to him in
obedience to a divine vision, than if his love had mastered her will,
and she had yielded despite her own conscience.
Also he knew that at last his patient self-restraint had won its
reward. The heart of a nun feared him no longer. The woman he loved
was as wholly his as she had ever been.
As the sun began to gild the horizon, flecking the sky with little rosy
clouds, Hugh turned into the turret archway, went down the steps, and
sought his chamber. No sooner was he stretched upon his couch, than,
for very joy, he fell asleep.
But--beyond the dark fir woods, and over the hills on the horizon, four
horsemen, having ridden out from a wayside inn before the dawn,
watched, as they rode, the widening of that silver rift in the sky, and
the golden tint, heralding the welcome appearance of the sun.
So soundly slept Hugh d'Argent that, three hours later, be did not wake
when a loud knocking on the outer gates roused the porter; nor, though
his casement opened on to the courtyard, did he hear the noisy clatter
of hoofs, as Brother Philip, with his escort of three mounted men, rode
in.
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