-down from the loftier tension; and some
one said that it was just the sweet lament for the good time past,
suitable for a race which like the Irish "had seen better days."
"But," said Miss Alida, "you would never find an old Dutch or Norse
song so destitute of hope or self-reliance. Their spirit is one that
does not look back to the dead and gone; or even forward for some
expected Helper. They sing the present, and the best possible present.
That is the noblest kind of song, and there will be hope for Ireland
when she sings no longer about the _having been_, but determines _to
be_."

However, in spite of all diversions, Browning had the evening; for no
one could escape from his influence. And all the way home Harry spoke
of Miss Alida's minister, and of the poem he had quoted from. He was
longing to say, "How strangely the experience of the youth in the poem
fitted into Hannah Young's fear that Christ would go away and not
forgive her, until the moment of pardon revealed Him through the
dread disguise a God of mercy and forgiveness!" He wished also to
speak for himself, but it was very difficult to do. In the first
place, Adriana was tremblingly afraid of explanations. She passed from
one person to another, and one subject to another with so much haste
and interest that it was finally clear to Harry she did not wish him
to allude to the great event of the day.

But his heart was full of love and sorrow, and as he walked by her
side from the carriage to the drawing-room he came to a decision.
Adriana stood a moment before the fire, and there Harry unclasped her
cloak, drew her head towards him, and kissed her fondly.

"Yanna!" he whispered, "Yanna, truest and best of wives! I love you,
and I love only you! I have wandered often, but never have I been
happy away from you. Forgive me once more. The things I have heard
to-day I shall never forget. Never will I be less worthy of your love
than I am at this hour; never again!"

And she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. No earthly words
were loving enough and happy enough, but something exquisite and
certain passed from eye to eye, and from heart to heart--some
assurance in that language of love whose sweet symbols happiness uses
so well. And Adriana knew that her true affection and noble patience
had conquered; and that the slow, calm years would flow on henceforth
in glad content, bringing them in their season all things good.

CHAPTER XI

The nex