I rose; I took up the wand, holding it so that its hollow should not rest
on the palm of the hand. I stole from the house by the back way, in order
to avoid Lilian, whose voice I still heard, singing low, on the lawn in
front. I came to a creek, to the bank of which a boat was moored, undid
its chain, rowed on to a deep part of the lake, and dropped the wand into
its waves. It sank at once; scarcely a ripple furrowed the surface, not a
bubble arose from the deep. And, as the boat glided on, the star mirrored
itself on the spot where the placid waters had closed over the tempter to
evil.

Light at heart, I sprang again on the shore, and hastening to Lilian,
where she stood on the silvered, shining sward, clasped her to my breast.

"Spirit of my life!" I murmured, "no enchantments for me but thine! Thine
are the spells by which creation is beautified, and, in that beauty,
hallowed. What though we can see not into the measureless future from the
verge of the moment; what though sorrow may smite us while we are dreaming
of bliss, let the future not rob me of thee, and a balm will be found for
each wound! Love me ever as now, oh, my Lilian; troth to troth, side by
side, till the grave!"

"And beyond the grave," answered Lilian, softly.




CHAPTER LXII.

Our vows are exchanged at the altar, the rite which made Lilian my wife is
performed; we are returned from the church amongst the hills, in which my