And Gregory Wenner thought About the day he stood here, even as now And heard a step, a voice, and looked around Saw Elenor Murray, felt her arms again, Her kiss upon his cheek, and saw her face As light was beating on it, heard her gasp In ecstasy for going to the war, To which that day she gave her pledge. And heard Her words of consecration. Heard her say, As though she were that passionate Heloise Brought into life again: "All I have done Was done for love of you, all I have asked Was only you, not what belonged to you. I did not hope for marriage or for gifts. I have not gratified my will, desires, But yours I sought to gratify. I have longed To be yours wholly, I have kept for self Nothing, have lived for you, have lived for you These years when you thought best to crush me out. And now though there's a secret in my heart, Not wholly known to me, still I can know it By seeing you again, I think, by touching Your hand again. Your life has tortured me, Both for itself, and since I could not give Out of my heart enough to make your life A way of peace, a way of happiness." Then Gregory Wenner thought how she looked down And said: "Since I go to the war, would God Look with disfavor on us if you took me In your arms wholly once again? My friend, Not with the thought to leave me soon, but sleeping Like mates, as birds do, making sleep so sweet Close to each other as God means we should. I mingle love of God with love of you, And in the night-time I can pray for you With you beside me, find God closer then. Who knows, you may take strength from such an hour." Then Gregory Wenner lived that night again, And the next morning when she rose and shook, As it were night gathered dew upon fresh wings, The vital water from her glowing flesh. And shook her hair out, laughed and said to him: "Courage and peace, my friend." And how they passed Among the multitude, when he took her hand And said farewell, and hastened to this room To seek for chances in another day, And never saw her more.