rment--torment of the body and of the
soul. They knew the blackness of rebellion. But they knew also, or
at least were beginning to know, the true essence of peace. And this
beginning of knowledge drew them nearer to the Hermes than they had been
in the bygone years, than they had ever been before the coming of little
Robin into their lives, and before Robin had left them, obedient to the
call from beyond.

The olive branch was gone from the doorway. Something beautiful was
missing from the picture of Elis which had reminded Rosamund of the
glimpse of distant country in Raphael's "Marriage of the Virgin." And
they longed to have it there, that little olive branch--ah, how they
longed! There was pain in their hearts. But there was no longer the
cruel fierceness of rebellion. They were able to gaze at the child on
whom Hermes was gazing, if not with his celestial serenity yet with
a resignation that was even subtly mingled with something akin to
gratitude.

"Shall we reach that goal and take a child with us?"

Long ago that had been Dion's thought in Elis. And long ago Rosamund had
broken the silence within that room by the words:

"I'm trying to learn something here, how to bring _him_ up if he ever
comes."

And now God had given them a child, and God had taken him from them.
Robin had gone from all that was not intended, but that, for some
inscrutable reason, had come to be. Robin was in the released world.

As the twilight began to fall another twilight came back flooding with
its green dimness the memories of them both. And at last Rosamund spoke.

"Dion!"

"Yes."

"Come a little nearer to me."

He came close to her and stood beside her.

"Do you remember something you said to me here? It was in the
twilight----"

She paused. Tears had come into her eyes and her voice had trembled.

"It was in the twilight. You said that it seemed to you as if Hermes
were taking the child away, partly because of us."

Her voice broke.

"I--I disliked your saying that. I told you I couldn't feel that."

"I remember."

"And then you explained exactly what you meant. And we spoke of the
human fear that comes to those who look at a child they love and think,
'what is life going to do to the child?' This evening I want to tell
you that in a strange way I am able to be glad that Robin has gone, glad
with some part of me that is more mother than anything else in me, I
think. Robin is--is so safe now."

The tears came