n the days of her visits to
the exile, Pepeeta entered the clearing and the deer, perceiving her
approach, ran to greet her in flying leaps, bounded around her, looked
up into her face with its gentle eyes, ate the food she offered and
licked the hand of its mistress--David thought that there was nothing
more beautiful in the world.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

PARADISE REGAINED

"The loves that meet in Paradise shall cast out fear,
And Paradise hath room for you and me and all."
--Christina Rossetti.

At last--the springtime came!

The potent energy of the sun opened all the myriad veins of the great
trees, wakened the hibernating creatures of the dens and burrows from
their protracted sleep, caused the seeds to swell and burst in the bosom
of earth, and sent the blood coursing through David's veins, quickening
all his intellectual and spiritual powers.

And then, the end of his exile was near! In a few weeks he would have
vindicated the purity of his purpose to attain the divine life, and have
proved himself worthy to claim the hand of Pepeeta!

All the winter long he had plied his axe. Once more, now that the snow
had vanished, he set fire to the debris which he had strewn around him,
and saw with an indescribable feeling of triumph and delight the open
soil made ready for his plow. He yoked a team of patient oxen to it and
set the sharp point deep into the black soil. Never had the earth
smelled so sweet as now when the broad share threw it back in a
continuously advancing wave. Never had that yeoman's joy of hearing the
ripping of roots and the grating of iron against stones as the great
oxen settled to their work, strained in their yokes and dragged the plow
point through the bosom of the earth, been half so genuine and deep. It
was good to be alive, to sleep, to eat, to toil! Cities had lost their
charm. David's sin was no longer a withering and blasting, but a
chastening and restraining memory. His clearing was a kingdom, his cabin
a palace, and he was soon to have a queen! He had reserved his sowing
for the last day of his self-imposed seclusion, which ended with the
month of May.

On the day following, having accomplished his vow, he would go to the
house of God and claim his bride! This day he would devote to that
solemn function of scattering the sacred seed of life's chief support
into the open furrow!

No wonder a feeling of devotion and awe came upon him as he prepared
himself for