-that
every honest motive forbade it. That look and touch, at the molten
point of various emotions, had welded their spirits together at once
and lastingly.

What next? For Gnulemah and for himself what course was least
disastrous?--the heroic line,--to leave her without a word?--or,
concealing what he was, should he stay and be happy in her arms? Was
there a third alternative?

"To part would be yet worse for her than for me. She would think I had
deceived her. And, love apart, how can I leave her whose only
protector I have killed? That deed puts me in his place; so love and
duty are at one for once. Her Balder,--her God,--she calls me. She is
my universe; the depth and limit of my knowledge and power are gauged
by her. Such is the issue of my aspirations!"

He breathed out a half-laugh, ending in a sigh. "But loving her is
sweeter than to inform creation!" he added, aloud.

The crocodile made no reply. Balder went on, fingering the telltale
ring and talking with himself; the earth, meanwhile, slowly turning
her warm shoulder to the western sun. A still half-light filled the
conservatory as with a clear mellow liquor, and the rich leaves, and
blossoms stood breathless with delight. The painfully rigid
contraction of Balder's features was softening away; he was coming
into harmony with the sensuous beauty of the scene, or its refined
voluptuousness--serene, unambitious, content with time and careless of
eternity--interpreted his altered temper.

Be happy in the sunlight, O men and women! Love and kiss,--bow down
and worship each the other! Who can tell of another joy like this?
Everlasting knows it not, for only the flavor of death can give it
perfection! Save for the foreshadow of midnight, noonday were not
beautiful. But when night comes, sink ye in one another's arms, and
sleep! Heaven on earth is a richer, stronger draught than Heaven; but
pray that in vouchsafing death, it cheat ye not of annihilation!

He had forgotten that there was anything ugly in the world, or that
the blindest cannot always escape the Gorgon. He recked not the risk
of bringing a being such as Gnulemah face to face with modern life,
nor bethought him that the secret in his heart would still be nearer
it than love could come. Neither, during this fortunate moment, did
fear of discovery harass him.

Oddly, too, it was not to domestic comforts,--the love of wife,
children, and friends,--nor yet to the absorbing duties of a
profession,