e in this world like little children at
school. God has many fair things 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 th