“But it drew thee back again? The Castle would not loose its hold on thee? Even so was it with me. Methought I hated it, Alixe, with its loneliness and its shadows and its vast silences. Yet however far away I was, I found it always before my eyes, or hidden in my thoughts. Through my hours of highest happiness I yearned for it; and it drew me back to it at last.” “It is true! It is true! I know thou speakest truth.” “And thou wilt not try again to go away, my sister?” “Not again; oh, not again! I could see you all, you and madame and Madame Lenore, and your eyes called me back. It is my home, is’t not? I have a place here, have I not? Ah, Laure, thou’st been so good to me! Shall we not, thou and I, go back again into our childhood, and dream of naught better than dwelling here forever in this place? Both of us have sinned. And now we are come home into the shadow of the Castle of Twilight, for forgiveness’ sake.” [Illustration] _CHAPTER SIXTEEN_ THE MIDDLE OF THE VALLEY [Illustration] Alixe had faith enough in David to believe that he would keep silent about the affair of that afternoon, and her confidence was not misplaced. No one save Laure knew of the caprice and the projected sin that had led them into their dangerous plight. And to the dwarf’s credit be it said that he never attached any blame to Alixe for their adventure. Indeed, thereafter, his manner toward her was marked by unusual consideration, a little veiled interest and sympathy, sprung from a knowledge that their habits of mind had led them both in the same ways of thought and desire. During the remainder of the summer, however, neither of them ventured again into the Goblin’s Cave; and, from Alixe’s mind at least, every thought, every desire, to leave the Castle, had been washed away. Her dreams of another life were dead. And, as the golden days slipped by, the thought that Le Crépuscule must be her home forever, came to have no bitterness in it; for she had learned in a strange way how Le Crépuscule was rooted into her heart, and how impossible it would be that she should leave it till the great Inevitable should bid her say farewell.