The Night Land | Page 9

moment by the brute, as she strove to hold him off from
me. But I to have him instant by the neck and the body, and brake him, so that he died at
once; and I cast him to the earth, and gave help to Mirdath, that I draw the poison from
the wounds.
And this I did so well as I might, despite that she would have me stop. And afterwards, I
took her into mine arms, and ran very fierce all the long and weary way to the Hall, and

with hot skewers I burned the wounds; so that when the doctor came, he to say I have
saved her by my care, if indeed she to be saved. But, truly, she had saved me in any wise,
as you shall think; so that I could never be done of honour to her.
And she very pale; but yet to laugh at my fears, and to say that she soon to have her
health, and the wounds healed very speedy; but, indeed, it was a long and bitter time
before they were proper healed, and she so well as ever. Yet, in time, so it was; and an
utter weight off my heart.
And when Mirdath was grown full strong again, we set our wedding day. And well do I
mind how she stood there in her bridal dress, on that day, so slender and lovely as may
Love have stood in the Dawn of Life; and the beauty of her eyes that had such sober
sweetness in them, despite the dear mischief of her nature; and the way of her little feet,
and the loveliness of her hair; and the dainty rogue-grace of her movements; and her
mouth an enticement, as that a child and a woman smiled out of the one face. And this to
be no more than but an hint of the loveliness of My Beautiful One.
And so we were married.
Mirdath, My Beautiful One, lay dying, and I had no power to hold Death backward from
such dread intent. In another room, I heard the little wail of the child; and the wail of the
child waked my wife back into this life, so that her hands fluttered white and desperately
needful upon the coverlid.
I kneeled beside My Beautiful One, and reached out and took her hands very gentle into
mine; but still they fluttered so needful; and she looked at me, dumbly; but her eyes
beseeching.
Then I went out of the room, and called gently to the Nurse; and the Nurse brought in the
child, wrapped very softly in a long, white robe. And I saw the eyes of My Beautiful One
grow clearer with a strange, lovely light; and I beckoned to the Nurse to bring the babe
near.
My wife moved her hands very weakly upon the coverlid, and I knew that she craved to
touch her child; and I signed to the Nurse, and took my child in mine arms; and the Nurse
went out from the room, and so we three were alone together.
Then I sat very gentle upon the bed; and I held the babe near to My Beautiful One, so that
the wee cheek of the babe touched the white cheek of my dying wife; but the weight of
the child I kept off from her.
And presently, I knew that Mirdath, My Wife, strove dumbly to reach for the hands of the
babe; and I turned the child more towards her, and slipped the hands of the child into the
weak hands of My Beautiful One. And I held the babe above my wife, with an utter care;
so that the eyes of my dying One, looked into the young eyes of the child. And presently,
in but a few moments of time; though it had been someways an eternity, My Beautiful
One closed her eyes and lay very quiet. And I took away the child to the Nurse, who
stood beyond the door. And I closed the door, and came back to Mine Own, that we have

those last instants alone together.
And the hands of my wife lay very still and white; but presently they began to move
softly and weakly, searching for somewhat; and I put out my great hands to her, and took
her hands with an utter care; and so a little time passed.
Then her eyes opened, quiet and grey, and a little dazed seeming; and she rolled her head
on the pillow and saw me; and the pain of forgetfulness went out of her eyes, and she
looked at me with a look that grew in strength, unto a sweetness of tenderness and full
understanding.
And I bent a little to her; and her eyes told