is my dear
sister indeed--yes, I will be content with that--and now take me to
the dear Helen, that I may see if my art can comfort her." Then it was
very sweet to Paul's sore heart that she drew her arm within his own
and led him up from the room. Then there came in haste the Lady
Beckwith down to meet them, with a look of pain upon her face; and
Paul said, still smiling, "We are brother and sister henceforth." Then
the Lady Beckwith smiled too out of her grief and said, "Oh, it is
well."

Then they passed together through the oratory and entered the chamber
of death. And then Paul saw a heavenly sight. The room was a large
one, dim and dark. In a chair near the fire, all in white, sate a
maiden like a lily--so frail and delicate that she seemed like a pure
spirit, not a thing of earth. She sate with a hand upraised between
her and the fire; and when Paul came in, she looked at him with a
smile in which appeared nothing but a noble patience, as though she
had waited long; but she did not speak. Then they drew a chair for
Paul, and he took his lute, and sang soft and low, a song of one who
sinks into sweet dreams, when the sounds of day are hushed--and
presently he made an end. Then she made a sign that Paul should
approach, and he went to her, and kneeled beside her, and kissed her
hand. And Margaret came out of the dark, and put her hand on Paul's
shoulder saying, "This is our brother." And Helen smiled in Paul's
face--and something, a kind of heavenly peace and love, seemed to pass
from her eyes and settle in Paul's heart; and it was told him in that
hour, he knew not how, that this was his bride whom he had loved, and
that he had loved Margaret for her sake; and that moment seemed to
Paul to be worth all his life that had gone before, and all that
should go after. So he knelt in the silence; and then in a moment, he
knew not where or whence, the whole air seemed full of a heavenly
music about them, such music as he had never dreamed of, the very soul
and essence of the music of earth. But Helen laid her head back, and,
smiling still, she died. And Paul laid her hand down.

Then without a word he rose, and went from the chamber; and he
stepped out into the garden, and paced there wondering; he saw the
trees stand silent in their sleep, and the flowers like stars in their
dewy beds. And he knew that God was very near him; he put all his
burdens and sorrows, his art, and all himself within the mighty hands;
and he