kets, his heart made continual melody, and rose in a stream of
praise to God. But they spoke little of love; at times Paul would try
to say something of what was in his mind; but the Lady Margaret heard
him, sedately smiling, as though she were pleased that she could give
him this joy, but as though she understood not what he said. She loved
to hear of Paul's life, and the places he had visited. And Paul, for
all his joy, felt that in his love he was, as it were, voyaging on a
strange and fair sea alone, and as though the maiden stood upon the
shore and waved her hand to him. When he kissed her or took her hand
in his own, she yielded to him gently and lovingly, like a child; and
it was then that Paul felt most alone. But none the less was he happy,
and day after day was lit for him with a golden light.

IV

One day there came a messenger for Paul, and brought him news that
made him wonder: the House of Heritage had fallen, on Mistress
Alison's death, to a distant kinsman of her own and of his. This man,
who was without wife or child, had lived there solitary, and it seemed
that he was now dead; and he had left in his will that if Sir Paul
should wish to redeem the house and land for a price, he should have
the first choice to do so, seeing his boyhood had been spent there.
Now Paul was rich, for he had received many great gifts and had spent
little; and there came into his heart a great and loving desire to
possess the old house. He told the Lady Beckwith and Margaret of this,
and they both advised him to go and see it. So Paul asked leave of the
Duke, and told him his business. Then the Duke said very graciously
that Paul had served him well, and that he would buy the house at his
own charges, and give it to Paul as a gift; but he added that this was
a gift for past service, and that he would in no way bind Paul; but he
hoped that Paul would still abide in the castle, at least for a part
of the year, and make music for them. "For indeed," said the Duke very
royally, "it were not meet that so divine a power should be buried in
a rustic grange, but it should abide where it can give delight.
Indeed, Sir Paul, it is not only delight! but through your music there
flows a certain holy and ennobling grace into the hearts of all who
attentively hear you, and tames our wild and brutish natures into
something worthier and more seemly." Then Paul thanked the Duke very
tenderly, and said that he w