"It was worth that long battle with the writhing furies, who would have chained me to Charon's boat, midway in the awful river, to be stranded here within these clinging arms. "O spirit pure and tender! is this Christ-like care for me at your King's command? Am I done with earth and sin, and entered into rest upon your hallowed heart? "Yes, the dark obscurity of earth no longer blinds me; I am reading the face of one who has gazed upon the Incarnate, and caught from Him beatitude past utterance. "How pure and above all earthly beauty are these holy lineaments! the essence of eternal love seems to shed from these eyes upon my languid soul; her rich tresses seem enwreathed with beams from the Fount of Joy; I am dazzled with the vision." The worn, white face of the sick man sinks more heavily upon the gentle bosom which supports it; but there is a fixed smile upon the blue lips of wonder and of triumph; there are tears stealing from the eyes which have been darkly fixed upward. The trembling soul who has been looking into the realm of Heaven, turns back at the yearning pressure of those arms, and new circles of brightening light and consciousness break over him, and St. Udo Brand looks up. A damp, cool perfume breathes around him of flowers; he seems to be surrounded by those sweet comforters; flowers upon his breast, against his fevered face, upon his pillow; and soft arms are truly around him, and his head is lying upon the yielding breast of a woman. "How is it that I am here?" "Did my darling try to speak?" "How strange! she is then some one to whom I am dear. I am indeed in Heaven, and this heavenly seraph is to be my guide and teacher. What made me suppose for an instant that I was back to earth? "It is so much better than I deserve, pure spirit--so much better." "Did you say you felt better?" "This vision is a woman? her heart seems bounding with joy; she bends closer with a sob of rapture; these holy eyes are dropping tears! "'There are no tears in Heaven.' Is it possible that I come back to earth and find some one weeping tears of joy for me! "Tell me who you are?" "You have whispered something again. Oh! love, you are so faint and weak that I can scarcely see your lips move. But I think you know me." "No, no. I left no such angel as you on earth when I died." "Do you say so? Wait until I bring my ear close." "No. Tell me." "Don't you know your nurse, who has been with you for two weeks? the nurse that you have clung to, and moaned for when your glazed eyes could not see me? Don't you remember how you made me hold you--just so--when the fever-phantoms were chasing you? Surely we are old friends by this time?" "My Perdita?" "Why, darling, do you know me, then? Now I shall dare to hope. Oh, thank Heaven!"