I touch harp-string, as thou knowest."

"In truth I was awake and heard," said Dorothy; "and the song thou wast
singing was of birds of passage, and of the longing of exiles to go
home, and of the dark wherethrough we must pass, with cries and beating
wings, ere we can find our way back to our true home-land.'"

"Nay, it must have been a dream," said Waldo, "for as I sat with my
hands hidden in my gown I did but play an imaginary harp, making still
music in my heart, and no song came from my lips."

"The more strange that I should hear!" replied Dorothy, smiling as she
went her way.

In a little while from this the poor brother felt that the end of his
martyrdom drew nigh; and as he lay feeble and faint in the shadow of
the hut (for the day was clement), sighing for the hour of his
deliverance, Dorothy came from the woods. In her hand she carried a
basket, and as she stood over him she said, "See what I have brought
for thee."

Lifting his head weakly, and looking through the eyelets of his grey
mask, Waldo saw that the basket contained three golden apples and three
red roses, though still it was but early days in spring. At sight of
them he uttered a cry of gladness (for all it was a cry hollow and
hoarse), and strove to rise and throw himself at her feet.

"Nay, brother," she said, "refrain; lie still and breathe the sweetness
of the roses and taste of the fruit."

She gave him one of the apples, and putting it to his mouth he tasted
it and sighed deeply. In a moment all pain and suffering had left him,
and his spirit was light and gladsome. His eyes too were opened, so
that he knew that Dorothy had no way deceived him, but was truly a
living woman of flesh and blood like himself. Then a heavenly peace
descended upon him like a refreshing dew, and he closed his eyes for
the great ease he felt.

While these things were happening, came from Three Fountains the
lay-brother who brought Waldo his provisions. Crossing the brook to
set his budget on the boulder, he saw the poor recluse lying in the lee
of the hut, and Dorothy leaning over him. Wherefore he hastened across
the wood-lawn, but in an instant the fair woman vanished before his
eyes, and when he came to the hut he saw that Waldo was dead. He
carried the basket of flowers and fruit to the Priory, and told what he
had seen; and the Prior, marvelling greatly, came to the place and gave
the poor leper brother a blessed burial.

Now at this time