"Well, if your good general bears me no malice for my rude behaviour to him in town, I will come. I think I would really enjoy his conversation now. How different the whole world has become to me!" As Rowena sat in the express train to town, her soul was full of thankfulness for this bit of her way, and she murmured to herself: "I always liked her from the first. I knew that sooner or later she would be led back to her old faith, and it has strengthened my own to see her so happy and whole-hearted now. I never, to my dying day, shall regret my time with her." BOOK III CHAPTER I HIS BRIDE "We in our wedded life shall know no loss, We shall new-date our years! What went before Will be the time of promise, shadow, dream, But this full revelation of great love! For rivers blent take in a broader heaven, And we shall blend our souls." From Cloud of Witness. "NOW we are together at last." It was in a tone of deep triumphant content that General Macdonald made this assertion. He and Rowena were facing each other in a first-class carriage. The Scotch express was taking them up to Scotland, and it was between nine and ten in the evening. Their wedding-day, and the weather had been perfect: a typical June day, when all the freshness of early summer is at its sweetest and best. They had got their way, and only about half a dozen people were in the quiet little Sussex church when they made their vows together. Rowena sat back looking radiant. She was dressed in a dark powder-blue coat and skirt with a travelling felt hat of the same hue, which intensified the blue in her eyes. But even now an irrepressible twinkle, of fun shot through them as she said: "So you think we shall always find our own company sufficient, Hugh?" "I shall never need anyone but you," he replied quickly. "Except your little Mysie." And then the General's grave intense look melted and he smiled. "Ah—Mysie! I left her in tears because I would not bring her up. I felt it was too sacred a service at which to have a curious child commenting and looking on. How long you have kept me waiting! I can hardly even now realize that the waiting time is over. I thought at one time that the old lady would never let you go." "Poor Mrs. Burke!" Rowena's eyes grew soft with pity. "You were always hard upon her; but you would not be hard if you could see her now. I used to wonder if she could ever have the necessary strength and pluck to alter her life; but it has all come about so easily." "Do you think me very hard? You will have to teach me how to look at people leniently when their views clash with my own. I could do with more tolerance and sympathy, I own. But it has always been my way to go straight ahead, and black is never white to me." Rowena put her hand on his very softly.