Luc felt a sudden beat at his heart, as if his life was about to fulfil its most splendid promise; his eyes were dazzled by her face, which seemed to him to be suddenly illuminated from within and transfigured. Her actual presence and his cherished vision of her were for that moment fused in one; he saw her robe edged with flame, and her head crowned with points of light, and her eyes of a steady and immortal brilliance. “Is it possible?” he said. “Is it possible?” “You know if it is or no,” she answered, and took a sudden step towards him with her head high. To his unfaltering gaze she was as unsubstantial as the sunbeams about her and as mysterious as the living flowers growing in the dusty old wall. “I cannot believe it,” said Luc--“that this is going to happen to me!” “Hush!” she whispered, “hush!” If he had put out his hand he could have touched her, but he made no movement, and she paused when there was a foot between them. “Won’t you speak to me?” he said. “Tell me how much I may dare?” She never ceased to gaze at him. “You know--everything,” she answered. “Why need we speak?” “I know nothing,” murmured Luc, “and I am afraid to guess.” “Afraid!” echoed Carola. “I too am afraid, bitterly afraid.” She turned her eyes from him and sank on to the seat with her head bent. Luc stepped impulsively towards her. “I have dreamt of you so often,” he said gravely; his lips were quivering and his eyes filled with tears. “You could never understand----” He laid his hand very lightly on her cloak; she looked up suddenly and said almost fiercely-- “Do not kiss me--do not touch me.” He would as soon have thought of trying to clasp the rainbow or press his lips to a moonbeam. He started, and flushed, and winced. “Not you,” she continued. “I could so easily hate you if you were to bring it to that. I also have had my dreams.” She was suddenly stripped of glory; her voice was even a little harsh; her attitude of shrinking distaste had nothing of the divine in it. Luc stared at her with a sudden terror; she seemed to be changing under his very eyes. She rose again, drooping yet stately, and drew her cloak about her. “Nothing has happened!” she exclaimed vehemently. “Do you hear--nothing has happened!” “Why do you deny yourself?” cried Luc. “Why are you lying to me?” “Nothing has happened!” she repeated; “nothing. Keep your dreams.” It seemed to Luc that she, while she spoke, was looking beyond him at some one else, and with a throbbing brain he turned and gazed towards the gloomy back of the house. There was, as he had expected, a man coming slowly towards them. Luc stiffened and narrowed his eyes. “This is the man who will be useful to you,” said Carola, in an ordinary tone.