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When he reached the spring he saw Maria appear on the brow of the hill； and with a quick； joyous bound his heart leaped up to meet her。 As she came toward him her white dress swept the tall grass from her feet； and her shadow flew like a winged creature straight before her。 There was a vivid softness in her facea look at once bright and wistfulwhich moved him with a new and strange tenderness。
〃I was a little late；〃 she explained； as they met before the long bench and she laid her books upon it； 〃and I am very warm。 May I have a drink？〃
〃From a bramble cup？〃
〃How else？〃 She took off her hat and tossed it on the grass at her feet； then； going to the spring； she waited while he plucked a leaf from the bramble and bent it into shape。 When he filled it and held it out； she placed her lips to the edge of the leaf and looked up at him with smiling eyes while she drank slowly from his hand。
〃It holds only a drop； but how delicious！〃 she said； seating herself again upon the bench and leaning back against the great body of a poplar。 Then her eyes fell upon his clothes。 〃Why； how very much dressed you look！〃 she added。
〃Oh； there's a reason besides SundayI've just come from a wedding。 Lila has married after twelve years of waiting。〃
〃Your pretty sister！ And to whom？〃
〃To Jim Weatherbyold Jacob's son； you know。 Now； don't tell me that you disapprove。 I count on your good sense to see the wisdom of it。〃
〃So it is your pretty sister；〃 she said slowly； 〃the woman I passed in the road the other day and held my breath as I did before Botticelli's Venus。〃
〃Is that so？ Well； she doesn't know much about pictures； nor does Jim。 She has thrown herself away； Cynthia says； but what could she have waited for； after all？ Nothing had ever come to her； and she had lived thirty years。 Besides； she will be very happy； and that's a good deal； isn't it？〃
〃It's everything；〃 said Maria quietly； looking down into her lap。
〃Everything？ And if you had been born in her place？〃
〃I am not in her place and never could be； but six years ago； if I had been told that I must live here all my life； I think I should have fretted myself to death； that would have happened six years ago； for I was born with a great aching for life； and I thought then that one could live only in the big outside world。〃
〃And now？〃 he questioned； for she paused and sat smiling gravely at the book she held。
〃Now I know that the fulness of life does not come from the things outside of us； and that we ourselves must create the beauty in which we live。 Oh； I have learned so much from misery；〃 she went on softly； 〃and worst of all； I have learned what it is to starve for bread in the midst of sugar…plums。〃
〃And it was worth learning？〃
〃The knowledge that I gained？ Oh； yes； yes； for it taught me how to be happy。 I went down into hell；〃 she said passionately； 〃and I came outclean。 I saw evil such as I had never heard of； I went close to it； I even touched it； but I always kept my soul very far away； and I was like a person in a dream。 The more I saw of sin and ugliness the more I dreamed of peace and beauty。 I builded me my own refuge； I fed on my own strength day and night and I am what I am〃
〃The loveliest woman on God's earth；〃 he said。
〃You do not know me； 〃she answered； and opened the book before her。 〃It was the story of the Holy Grail；〃 she added； 〃and we left off here。 Oh； those brave days of King Arthur！ It was always May then。〃
He touched the page lightly with a long blade of grass。
〃Read yourselfthis once；〃 he pleaded； 〃and let me listen。〃
Leaning a little forward； she looked down and slowly turned the pages； her head bent over the book； her long lashes shading the faint flush in her cheeks。 Over her white dress fell a delicate lacework from the young poplar leaves； flecked here and there with pale drops of sunshine； which filtered through the thickly clustered boughs。 When the wind passed in the high tree…tops； the shadows； soft and fine as cobweb； rippled over her dress； and a loose strand of her dark hair waved gently about her ear。 The lifethe throbbing vitality withinher seemed to vivify the very air she breathed； and he felt all at once that the glad thrill which stirred his blood was but a response to the fervent spirit which spoke in her voice。
〃For it giveth unto all lovers courage； that lusty month of May；〃 she read； 〃in something to constrain him to some manner of thing more in that month than in any other monthfor then all herbs and trees renew a man and woman； and in likewise lovers call again to mind old gentleness and old service and many kind deeds that were forgotten by negligence。〃
The words went like wine to his head； and he saw her shadowy figure recede and dissolve suddenly as in a mist。 A lump rose in his throat； his heart leaped； and he felt his pulses beating madly in his temples。 He drew back； closing his eves to shut out her face； but the next instant； as she stirred slightly to hold down the rippling leaves； he bent forward and laid his hand upon the one that held the open book。
Her voice fluttered into silence； and； raising her head； she looked up in tremulous surprise。 He saw her face pale slowly； her lids quiver and droop above her shining eyes； and her teeth gleam milk white between her parted lips。 A tremor of alarm ran through her； and she made a swift movement to escape； then； lifting her eyes again； she looked full into his own； and； stooping quickly； he kissed her on the mouth。
An instant afterward the book fell to the ground； and he rose to his feet and stood trembling against the body of the poplar。
〃Forgive me；〃 he said； 〃forgive meI have ruined it。〃
Standing beside the bench； she watched him with a still； grave gentleness before which his gaze dropped slowly to the ground。
〃Yes； you have ruined this；〃 she answered； smiling； 〃but Latin is still left。〃
〃It's no use；〃 he went on breathlessly。 〃I can't do it； it's no use。〃
His eyes sought hers and held them while he made a single step forward； then； turning quickly away； he went from her across the meadow to the distant wood。
BOOK FIVE。 The Ancient Law
CHAPTER I。 Christopher Seeks an Escape
A clump of brambles caught at his feet； and； stumbling like a drunken man； he threw himself at full length upon the ground； pressing his forehead on the young； green thorns。 A century seemed to have passed since his flight from the poplar spring； and yet the soft afternoon sunshine was still about him and the low murmurs of the thrush still floated from the old apple…tree。 All the violence of his undisciplined nature had rushed into revolt against the surrender which he felt must come； and he was conscious at the instant that he hated only a little less supremely than he loved。 In the end the greater passion would triumph over him； he knew； but as he lay there face downward upon the earth the last evil instincts of his revenge battled against the remorse which had driven him from Maria's presence。 He saw himself clearly for what he was： he had learned at last to call his sin by its right name； and yet he felt that somewhere in the depths of his being he had not ceased to love the evil that he had done。 He hated Fletch