More than thirty years ago two atoms of the eternal Energy sped forth
from the heart of it which we call God, and incarnated themselves in
the human shapes that were destined to hold them for a while, as vases
hold perfumes, or goblets wine, or as sparks of everlasting radium
inhabit the bowels of the rock. Perhaps these two atoms, or essences,
or monads indestructible, did but repeat an adventure, or many, many
adventures. Perhaps again and again they had proceeded from that Home
august and imperishable on certain mornings of the days of Time, to
return thither at noon or nightfall, laden with the fruits of gained
experience. So at least one of them seemed to tell the other before
all was done and that other came to believe. If so, over what fields
did they roam throughout the aeons, they who having no end, could have
no beginning? Not those of this world only, we may be sure. It is so
small and there are so many others, millions upon millions of them,
and such an infinite variety of knowledge is needed to shape the soul
of man, even though it remain as yet imperfect and but a shadow of
what it shall be.

Godfrey Knight was born the first, six months later she followed (her
name was Isobel Blake), as though to search for him, or because
whither he went, thither she must come, that being her doom and his.

Their circumstances, or rather those of their parents, were very
different but, as it chanced, the houses in which they dwelt stood
scarcely three hundred yards apart.

Between the rivers Blackwater and Crouch in Essex, is a great stretch
of land, flat for the most part and rather dreary, which, however, to
judge from what they have left us, our ancestors thought of much
importance because of its situation, its trade and the corn it grew.