en ray from the sinking
sun, he could see a strange light shine. Then he went out of the door
and dragged it to behind him, to battle his way homeward through the
roaring gale that stung and buffeted him like all the gathered spites
and hammerings of Destiny.

This, then, was their parting, a parting pure and stern and high,
unsolaced by one soft word, unsweetened by a single kiss. Yet it seems
fitting that those who hope to meet in the light of the spirit should
make their last farewells on earth beneath such solemn shadows.

And Stella? After all she was but a woman, a woman with a very human
heart. She knew the truth indeed, to whom it was given to see before
the due determined time of vision, but still she was troubled with that
human heart, and weighed down by the flesh over which she triumphed. Now
that he was gone, pride and strength seemed both to leave her, and with
a low cry, like the cry of a wounded sea-bird, she cast herself down
there upon the cold stones before the altar, and wept till her senses
left her.

A great gale roared and howled. The waters, driven onwards by its
furious breath, beat upon the eastern cliffs till these melted like snow
beneath them, taking away field and church, town and protecting wall,
and in return casting up the wrecks of ships and the bodies of dead men.

Morris could not sleep. Who could sleep in such an awful tempest? Who
could sleep that had passed through such a parting? Oh! his heart
ached, and he was as one sick to death, and with him continually was the
thought of Stella, and before him came the vision of her eyes. He could
not sleep, so rising, he dressed himself and went to the window. High
in the heavens swept clean of clouds by the furious blasts floated a
wandering moon, throwing her ghastly light upon the swirling, furious
sea. Shorewards rushed the great rollers in unending lines, there to
break in thunder and seethe across the shingle till the sea-wall stopped
them and sent the spray flying upwards in thin, white clouds.

"God help those in the power of the sea to-night," thought Morris, "for
many of them will not keep Christmas here."

Then it seemed to his mind, excited by storm and sorrow, as though some
power were drawing him, as though some voice were telling him that there
was that which he must hear. Aimlessly, half-unconsciously he wandered
to his workshop in the old chapel, turned on one of the lamps, and stood
at the window watching the maje