she said--"there is no union which is
real or binding save the Spiritual,--and this may be consummated in
some way beyond our knowledge when once the sacred rite is said. You
need no explanation from me,--you who are a member and future denizen
of the Golden City,--you, who are set apart to live long after these
poor human creatures have passed away with the unthinking millions of
the time--and you can have no hesitation to unite them as far as they
CAN be united, so that they may at least be saved from the malicious
tongues of an always evil-speaking world. You once asked me to tell you
of the few moments of real happiness I have known,--this will be one of
the keenest joys to me if I can satisfy this loving-hearted girl and
aid her to carry out her self-chosen martyrdom. And you must help me!"

Gently Aloysius laid his hand on her bent head.

"It will be indeed a martyrdom!" he said, slowly, "Long and torturing!
Think well of it!--a woman, youthful and beautiful, chained to a mere
breathing image of man,--a creature who cannot recognise either persons
or objects, who is helpless to move, and who will remain in that
pitiable state all his life, if he lives!--dear child, are you
convinced there is no other way?"

"Not for her!" Morgana replied--"She has set her soul to try if God
will help her to restore him,--she will surround him with the constant
influence of a perfectly devoted love. Dare we say there shall be no
healing power in such an influence?--we who know so much of which the
world is ignorant!"

He stroked her shining hair with a careful tenderness as one might
stroke the soft plumage of a bird.

"And you?" he said, in a low tone--"What of you?"

She raised her eyes to his. A light of heaven's own radiance shone in
those blue orbs--an angelic peace beyond all expression.

"What should there be of me except the dream come true?" she responded,
smiling--"You know my plans,--you also know my destiny, for I have told
you everything! You will be the controller of all my wealth, entrusted
to carry out all my wishes, till it is time either for you to come
where I am, or for me to return hither. We never know how or when that
may be. But it has all seemed plain sailing for me since I saw the city
called 'Brazen' but which WE know is Golden!--and when I found that you
belonged to it, and were only stationed here for a short time, I knew I
could give you my entire confidence. It is not as if we were of the
pass