He held his silence, and she prayed in it. She saw the world all One: and of it, like a throbbing heart, like a high radiant head, she saw that there was God. But she said again:
“There’s something the matter with me.”
Johns came to her: he stood above her, holding her two hands.
“Come beside me, Fanny.”
The tears ran silent down her cheeks.—What does it mean?
“Come beside me. O close. Lie close with me, Fanny.”
She felt his arms lifting her like a leaf in a warm wind ... laying her down. She felt his hands and his mouth that fell like a warm rain on her parching flesh. She shut her eyes.
* * *
... So that day they had walked with Autumn burning all about them. Silently. She, walking through the years with feet at last aware: he, mute unconscious, reckless of pasts, praying that as she walked beside him ... this strange deep lovely creature who had become his life ... she should not walk away.
The day was done. They sat in their room at the Inn, with Night.