But Mariana smiled, half dreamily. “To-night is not yet over, and you will never wish to part with such a robe. You begged it from the Master, and you’ll keep it I know none other who would care to bear so great a load, though in its beauty all forget to think of that.” “I do not find it very heavy.” “It’s well.” Suddenly Rosalie laughed. “I say, Mariana,” said she, “suppose—suppose when I come to Marble House it should shine red all round about me. They’d take me for a veritable scarlet woman. I have misgivings. I remember once before.” But Mariana shook her head. “I heard from the Master you had gained strength from weakness; and I heard from Everard you had jewels of your own that you have worn to counteract the fatal charm of these.” “Not of my own, Mariana; they were of God.” “Ah, God! I had forgotten Him. The dream has passed so long ago.” “God is no dream, but a living reality, Mariana.” “I was once bitten by a snake, and here they call the Serpent God. I love not such an image, but live in the never-ending twilight. I think it is the shadowed light the idol throws, placing itself betwixt the world and God.” And suddenly Rosalie took her hands in hers, and drew her to her with a gentle force, and kissed her lips and forehead, saying: “But soon the idol will vanish out of sight, and the true light come. You needn’t live in the twilight, Mariana, any more than I. You only need to trust the Glorious Spirit working behind the leaden cloud, and struggle silently toward the healing light. And some day, even though the waiting time be long, the icy burden will be rolled away, and you all warm and bright again to love and honour God with strength unfettered.” And then Brightcoat said: “I should like to go with Mariana back to Marble House.” “Do you care for such a companion?” asked Rosalie of Mariana. But the frog jumped across and settled on her shoulder. “You need me no more now, Rosalie. I have done what work I could for you. But now to Mariana. She may need me as once you did. And though her heart is cold to-day, the New Year dawns, and with it in the distance I see a fairer prospect and a warmer light breaking upon the horizon of heaven.” And so with this new companion Mariana went away back to the Marble House. Into that gloomy dwelling, though now all brilliantly lit, the frog entered unafraid, and none thought to harm it, for the charm had worked, or perhaps was working. CHAPTER XXXV THE SUN RISES ON THE YEAR A brilliant house again, a brilliant crowd, the eve of the New Year, the death-bed of the Old. Just three hours more to wait. But as Rosalie drove along, it was as if depression and the highest spirits fought one another for the mastery.