clarior oro_!'

"And what does it matter for me, during these few and evil days that are
left of this lower life? True, the wilderness is painful: but it will
be over soon. True, my spirit is worn and weary: but the rest of the
New Jerusalem will soon restore me. True, I am weak, poor, blind,
ignorant, lonely, sorrowful: but my Lord is strength, wealth, light,
wisdom, love, and joyfulness. Never canst thou be loveless, Bruno de
Malpas, while the deathless love of Christ endureth; never canst thou be
lonely and forlorn, whilst thou hast His company who is the sunlight of
Heaven. Perhaps it would not have been good for me, had my beloved
stayed with me. Nay, since He saw it good, it can be no perhaps, but a
certainty. I suppose I should have valued Him less, had my jewel-casket
remained full. Ay, Thou hast done well, my Lord! Pardon Thy servant if
at times the journey grows very weary to his weak human feet, and he
longs for a draught of the sweet waters of earthly love which Thou hast
permitted to dry up. Grant him fresh draughts of that Living Water
whereof he that drinketh shall thirst no more. Hold Thou me up, and I
shall be safe!

"Was I right in refusing to baptise the maiden? Verily, it would have
been rich revenge on Licorice. I had no right, as I told her, to suffer
the innocence of her chrism to be soiled with the evil passions which
were sin in me. Yet had I any right to deny her the grace of holy
baptism, because I was not free from evil passions? Oh, how hard it is
to find the straight road!

"Poor little maiden! What will become of her now? I fear the
impressions that have been made on her will soon be stifled in the
poisonous atmosphere into which she is gone. And I cannot bear to think
of her as a lost soul, with that face so like my Anegay, and that
voice--

"Now, shame upon thee, Bruno de Malpas! Is Belasez more to thee than to
Him that died for her? Canst thou not trust Him who giveth unto His
sheep eternal life, not to allow this white lamb to be plucked out of
His hand? O Lord, increase my faith!--for it is very low. I am one of
the very weakest of Thy disciples. Yet I am Thine. Lord, Thou knowest
all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee!"

During the time occupied by these reflections, Bruno had been
instinctively approaching the Castle, and he looked up suddenly as he
was conscious of a clang of arms and a confused medley of voices, not in
very peaceful tones, breaking