"But he knew the rule," he said, "and he was older than you; and rules are made to be kept, you know. I can't have them broken."
They were silent for a moment, and then Gwendolen had a rather awful and irreverent idea.
"But p'raps if God hadn't broken one of His rules," she said, "you might never have seen the boy."
He stood looking at her for a long time, or at least it seemed long, though it was only twelve seconds. Then he glanced at his watch.
"What are your names?" he asked.
They told him their names, and he held out his hand.
"Well, good-bye, Marian and Gwendolen," he said; "and you can tell Mr Williams that I've changed my mind."
Deep within the wood I know,
There's a place where mourners go,
Just as, in the twilight cool,
Crept they to Siloam's pool.
There, with one accord, they bring
Sorrows for a healing wing;
And each hushed and stooping leaf
Lays its hand on their heart's grief.