At last they came to Renault, the one who had opened their eyes to life and to themselves.
"Still working," Margaret said, "burning up there in the hills like a steady flame! Some day he will go out,—not die, just wholly consume from within, like one of those old lamps that burn until there is nothing, no oil left, not even the dust of the wick."
As the faint morning breeze began to draw across the upland they fell asleep, clasping hands.
CHAPTER LXXX
The rising sun had barely shot its first beams over the eastern swell when Lane came to the tent to call them for the early breakfast before the day's expedition to a wonderful canon. Isabelle, making a sign to John not to disturb Margaret, who was still fast asleep, drew the blanket over her shoulders and joined her husband. The level light flooded the rolling upland with a sudden glory of gold, except along the outer rim of the horizon where the twilight color of deep violet still held. Husband and wife strolled away from the tents in the path of the sun.
"Big, isn't it?" he exclaimed.
"Yes!" she murmured. "It is a big, big world!" And linking her arm in his they walked on towards the sun together.
In the morning light the earth was fresh and large and joyous. And life, as Renault had said over the body of the dead child, seemed good, all of it! That which was past, lived vainly and in stress, and that which was to come as well. So Alice had affirmed in the presence of her bereavement…. Life is good, all of it,—all its devious paths and issues!
"It is so good to be here with you!" Isabelle whispered to her husband.
"Yes,—it is a good beginning," he replied. And in his face she read that he also understood that a larger life was beginning for them both.