ar off and very
high, yet strangely near and clear, a Throne at the head of the steps.
But Renatus dared not look thereon, for he felt that the time was not
come; but he saw, as it were reflected in the eyes of the kings, that
they looked upon a sight of awful splendour and mystery. Then he saw
that the two that still held their crowns laid them down upon the
ground with a sort of fearful haste, as though they were constrained;
but the youngest of the kings smiled, as though he were satisfied
beyond his dearest wish.

Then Renatus felt that somewhat was to be done too bright and holy
for a mortal eye to behold, and so he drew back and softly closed the
door; and it was a pain to find himself within the dark church again;
it was as though he had lost the sight of something that a man might
desire above all things to see--but he dared look no longer; and the
music came again, but this time more urgently, in a storm of sound.

Then Renatus went back to his place, that seemed to him very small and
humble beside what he had seen outside. And all the pride was emptied
out of his heart, for he knew that he had looked upon the truth, and
that it was wider than he had dreamed; and then he knelt and prayed
that God would keep him humble and diligent and brave; but then he
grew ashamed of his prayer, for he remembered that, after all, he was
but still praying for himself; and he had a thought of the young
Emperor's face, and he knew that there was something deeper and better
still than humility and diligence and courage; what it was he knew
not; but he thought that he had been, as it were, asking God for those
fair things, like flower-blooms or jewels, which a man may wear for
his own pride; but that they must rather rise and blossom, like plants
out of a rich soil. So he ended by praying that God would empty him of
all unworthy thoughts, and fill him full of that good and great thing,
which, in the Gospel story, Martha went near to miss, but Mary
certainly divined.

That was a blessed hour, to the thought of which Renatus afterwards
often turned in darker and more weary days. But it drew swiftly to an
end, and as he knelt, the bell beat one, and his vigil was over.

Presently the Duke came to attend him back; and Renatus could not
speak of the vision, but only told the Duke that he had seen a
wonderful thing, and he added a few words of grateful love, holding
the Duke's hand close in his own.

On the next day, before Renatu