VII.
Roseheart Gives Greeting
WHEN all things had become clear to Roseheart she arose swiftly, and went unto Telwyn the King, and the Queen her mother. And upon her face was a shining which was the shining of her soul. And she said unto them, "I give you greeting, my father and my mother."
And looking upon her they were glad exceedingly, and exchanged looks the one with the other, for that the face of The Going of WurRoseheart was no longer gray with grief.
First answered Ellaline, saying, "Greeting to thee, my daughter. Where now is Wur, that thou hast the look of happiness?"
Sudden wonder made wide the eyes of Roseheart. "In good sooth I know not," she answered. "I have not seen her at all any more since the coming of the Shining One."
Telwyn the King leaned him forward in eagerness, asking, "The Shining One? What meanest thou?"
Into the face of Roseheart came the far, wondering look of children, Roseheart, Her Taskbut in her heart was a song. "I know not," she made answer, "unless it was an angel of the Lord God, to shew me the things that I must do, and that which I must become." Herewith the voice of the maid grew wondrous sweet. "Of my garment of sorrow must I make raiment of joy to cover the nakedness of the poor. To the sick must I take the flowers of kindness that are now as snowdrops blossoming under the mantle of the winter of grief. I am to look into the eyes of the old and find patience, and into the hearts of children and find hope. And I am to tend the bed of pain, and ease the suffering of the sons of men in Telwyn Perceivethsuch measure as I may, that all things may befall me as the Lord God desireth."
Into the face of Telwyn there came a tenderness like that of women, and in his voice were the tears a man may not suffer in his eyes. "Great is the joy in my heart," he said, "for that thou art indeed become a woman. And well I wot that the Lord God is with thee, that thou knowest these things of wisdom."