et in the way, and who
sees the city gate across the fields." Then she smiled at him and said,
"But I am near the gate." Then he told her that he often thought of her,
and made mention of her in his prayers; and so rose to go; but she asked
him to bless her, which David did very tenderly, and kissed her and
departed; but he went heavily; because he feared to be regarded as he
was now regarded; and he thought in his heart that he would never return
again, but dwell alone in his cave with God. For the world troubled him;
and the voices of the children, and the looks of those that he had known
before seemed to lay soft hands about his heart, and draw him back into
the world.

The same day he returned to the cave; and the boats came out and took
the bodies away, and they were laid in the burying-ground.

Then the next day many returned to clear away the wreck; and David came
not out of his cave while they did this; for it went to his heart to see
the joy with which they gathered what had meant the death of so many
men. They asked him what they should leave for him, and he answered,
"Nothing--only a piece of plain wood, for a purpose." So when evening
came they had removed all; and the island, that had rung all day with
shouts and talk and the feet of men, was silent again; but before they
went, David said that he had a great desire to see a priest, if a
message could be sent; and this they undertook to do. But David was very
heavy-hearted for many days, for it seemed to him that the sight of the
world had put all the peace out of his heart; and his prayers came
hollow and dry.

A few days after there came a boat to the rock; the sea was running
somewhat high, and they had much ado to make a landing. David went down
to the water's edge, and saw that besides the fishermen, whom he knew,
there was a little wizened man in a priest's dress, that seemed
bewildered by the moving of the boat and the tossing of the big waves
with their heaving crests, that broke upon the rocks with a heavy sound.
At last they got the boat into the creek, and the little priest came
nimbly ashore, but not without a wetting. The fishermen said that they
would return in the evening, and fetch the priest away.

He looked a frail man, and David could not discern whether he were young
or old; and he felt a pity for a man who was so unhandy, and who seemed
to be so scared of the sea. But the priest came up to him and took his
hand. "I have heard much of