But then she drew me up to her and kissed me, even as a mother kisses some lost, erring child, and held me in her arms, and laughed with tears in her own eyes, and looked at me with such a long, last look that ever afterwards I marvelled not at this great grief.
And then she turned to him and took his hand in hers and drew him to me. He took both my hands within his own and looked into my eyes as she had done, and kissed my lips and turned away.
And then together, she pressed close to him, and his all-seeming powerful arm clasped round her, they sailed away together into space.
And I stood still without the gate and watched them.
In the distance they looked like one bright, glorious spirit, moving, brilliantly white. But as they neared the earth, which they must pass, the whiteness turned to brilliant red.
He gave one glance across towards the planet, scarce lasting out the instant, but she raised her head and looked above his shoulder eagerly, to catch the passing sight. And her fair, fragile face shone there, looking wistfully, till they had neared the gates of hell.
And then I turned and remembered they had passed in silence. I had never heard her speak.
And the sun set.
THE END
COLSTON AND COY. LTD., PRINTERS, EDINBURGH