w turned
towards his? Whose the footsteps that with such infinite slowness drew
nearer to where he waited? He did not dare to say.

His mind went back many years to that time before the tragedy of
Angele's death, before the mystery of the Other. He waited then as he
waited now. But then he had not waited in vain. Then, as now, he had
seemed to feel her approach, seemed to feel her drawing nearer and
nearer to their rendezvous. Now, what would happen? He did not know. He
waited. He waited, hoping all things. He waited, believing all things.
He waited, enduring all things. He trusted in the Vision.

Meanwhile, as spring advanced, the flowers in the Seed ranch began
to come to life. Over the five hundred acres whereon the flowers were
planted, the widening growth of vines and bushes spread like the waves
of a green sea. Then, timidly, colours of the faintest tints began to
appear. Under the moonlight, Vanamee saw them expanding, delicate
pink, faint blue, tenderest variations of lavender and yellow, white
shimmering with reflections of gold, all subdued and pallid in the
moonlight.

By degrees, the night became impregnated with the perfume of the
flowers. Illusive at first, evanescent as filaments of gossamer; then
as the buds opened, emphasising itself, breathing deeper, stronger. An
exquisite mingling of many odours passed continually over the Mission,
from the garden of the Seed ranch, meeting and blending with the aroma
of its magnolia buds and punka blossoms.

As the colours of the flowers of the Seed ranch deepened, and as their
odours penetrated deeper and more distinctly, as the starlight of each
succeeding night grew brighter and the air became warmer, the illusion
defined itself. By imperceptible degrees, as Vanamee waited under the
shadows of the pear trees, the Answer grew nearer and nearer. He saw
nothing but the distant glimmer of the flowers. He heard nothing but
the drip of the fountain. Nothing moved about him but the invisible,
slow-passing breaths of perfume; yet he felt the approach of the Vision.

It came first to about the middle of the Seed ranch itself, some half
a mile away, where the violets grew; shrinking, timid flowers, hiding
close to the ground. Then it passed forward beyond the violets, and drew
nearer and stood amid the mignonette, hardier blooms that dared
look heavenward from out the leaves. A few nights later it left the
mignonette behind, and advanced into the beds of white iris th