to teach us, but we grow
to love our play, and to think of nought else, so that the holy
lessons fall on unheeding ears; but now I have put aside my play, and
sit awhile listening to the voice of God, and to all that He may teach
me; and the lesson is hard to spell; but I wait upon Him humbly and
quietly, till He call me hence. And now we have talked enough, and we
will go back to our music; and you shall play me that passage over,
for you played it not deftly enough before."

Now it happened that a few days later Paul in his sleep dreamed a
dream; and when he woke, he could scarce contain his joy; and the boy
Percival, seeing him in the morning, marvelled at the radiance that
appeared in his face; and a little later Paul bade him go across the
fields to the Lady Margaret's house, and to bid her come to him, if
she would, for he had something that he must tell her, and he might
not go abroad. So Percival told the Lady Margaret; and she wondered at
the message, and asked if Sir Paul was sick. And the boy said, "No, I
never saw him so full of joy--so that I am afraid."

Then the Lady Margaret went to the House of Heritage; and Paul came
to greet her at the door, and brought her in, and sate for awhile in
silence, looking on her face. The Lady Margaret was now a very comely
and sedate lady, and had held her son's child in her arms; and Paul
was a grey-haired man; yet in his eyes she was still the maiden he had
known. Then Paul, speaking very softly, said, "Dear Margaret, I have
bidden you come hither, for I think I am called hence; and when I
depart, and I know not when it may be, I would close my eyes in the
dear house where I was nurtured." Then she looked at him with a sudden
fear, but he went on, "Dear one, I have dreamed very oft of late of
Helen--she stands smiling in a glory, and looks upon me. But this last
night I saw more. I know not if I slept or waked, but I heard a high
and heavenly music; and then I saw Helen stand, but she stood not
alone; she held by the hand a child, who smiled upon me; and the child
was like herself; but I presently discerned that the child had a look
of myself as well; and she loosed the child's hand from her own, and
the child ran to me and kissed me; and Helen seemed to beckon me; and
then I passed into sleep again. But now I see the truth. The love that
I bear her hath begotten, I think, a child of the spirit that hath
never known a mortal birth; and the twain wait for me." And Marg