und that she had a
crown for each and every one. And he learned to talk to her about
things vital to men and women, and found that this was the strangest,
grandest and most providential hour in the world--this newest hour.

It was with a rich and encompassing delight that Cairns discovered
Vina's fineness, endurance, delicacy, and intuition. He was humble
before her spirit, for he had become sensitive to that which was mystic
and ineffable. He saw through her, a sanction and authority for his own
future years, her light upon the work he must do. The animation of his
mind in her presence was pure with service. And Vina awakened, for she
saw with trembling, what is a miracle to a modern woman's eyes, man's
delight to honor that which is most truly woman's. So her girlhood
crept back.

* * * * *

At first Vina thought he was using her for a study. They had long been
friends; she was glad to be of assistance; so he was free to come and
go, and she was free with him as only an old comrade can be--one who
expects nothing. They had great talks about Bedient; both revered him,
and were grateful for his coming. And Vina was not slow to see the
change in David Cairns; that it was in nowise momentary, but sound and
structural. She took a deep interest in his progress, mothered it, made
him glad to show her its phases.

"Things are looking so differently to me," he said, one of the first
days. "It makes me think of the American soldiers I met the first time
afield--the time I met Bedient. I praised the officers for their own
home papers. They looked so big and thrilling to me, as men. It was
easy. I remember riding with a cavalry leader one rough day--a long
day. He was hard and still with courage. He rolled a hundred cigarettes
that day. I thought him the genius of an officer. Then I saw him
afterward over here. It was the same with others. They seemed to have
left their glory out there among the swamps and the hills.... It's the
same way with the things I thought before Bedient came.... I can see
_your_ things a lot better."

It was true, he could. Vina had noted that. He could sense her
atmosphere, and divine her intents. Formerly, he had taken the word of
the others that she had power for her work.... Almost every afternoon
now he tapped at her door. Entering, he would take a seat by the
fire-frame, stare a bit at the city or the tower, or move about behind
her, regarding the freshly done wo