The Night Land

. 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 me to take her into mine

arms for those last minutes. Then I went very gentle upon the bed, and

lifted her with an utter and tender care, so that she lay suddenly

strangely restful against my breast; for Love gave me skill to hold her,

and Love gave My Beautiful One a sweetness of ease in that little time

that was left to us.