eagerly forward, half in hope,--half in fear. What slight Figure
was that, pacing slowly, serenely, and all alone in the moonlight?
... Without another instant's pause he rushed impetuously toward
it,--heedless that as he went, he trod on thousands of those
strange starry blossoms, which now, with sudden growth, covered
and whitened every inch of the ground, thus marvellously
fulfilling the words spoken of old: . . "Behold the field thou
thoughest barren; how great a glory hath the moon unveiled!"




CHAPTER X.

GOD'S MAIDEN EDRIS.


He ran on swiftly for a few paces,--then coming more closely in
view of the misty Shape he pursued, he checked himself abruptly
and stood still, his heart sinking with a bitter and irrepressible
sense of disappointment. Here surely was no Angel wanderer from
unseen spheres! ... only a girl, clad in floating gray draperies
that clung softly to her slim figure, and trailed behind her as
she moved sedately along through the snow-white blossoms that bent
beneath her noiseless tread. He had no eyes for the strange
flower-transfiguration of the lately barren land,--all his
interest was centered on the slender, graceful form of the
mysterious Maiden. She, meanwhile, went on her way, till she
reached the western boundary of the field,--there she turned, ...
hesitated a moment, ... and then came back straight toward him. He