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Coming and going； and hustling about in closet and chamber。
Then Elizabeth told her story again to John Estaugh；
Going far back to the past； to the early days of her childhood；
How she had waited and watched； in all her doubts and besetments
Comforted with the extendings and holy； sweet inflowings
Of the spirit of love； till the voice imperative sounded；
And she obeyed the voice； and cast in her lot with her people
Here in the desert land； and God would provide for the issue。
Meanwhile Joseph sat with folded hands； and demurely
Listened； or seemed to listen； and in the silence that followed
Nothing was heard for a while but the step of Hannah the
housemaid
Walking the floor overhead； and setting the chambers in order。
And Elizabeth said； with a smile of compassion； 〃The maiden
Hath a light heart in her breast； but her feet are heavy and
awkward。〃
Inwardly Joseph laughed； but governed his tongue； and was silent。
Then came the hour of sleep； death's counterfeit； nightly
rehearsal
Of the great Silent Assembly； the Meeting of shadows； where no
man
Speaketh； but all are still； and the peace and rest are unbroken！
Silently over that house the blessing of slumber descended。
But when the morning dawned； and the sun uprose in his splendor；
Breaking his way through clouds that encumbered his path in the
heavens；
Joseph was seen with his sled and oxen breaking a pathway
Through the drifts of snow； the horses already were harnessed；
And John Estaugh was standing and taking leave at the threshold；
Saying that he should return at the Meeting in May； while above
them
Hannah the housemaid； the homely； was looking out of the attic；
Laughing aloud at Joseph； then suddenly closing the casement；
As the bird in a cuckoo…clock peeps out of its window；
Then disappears again； and closes the shutter behind it。
III
Now was the winter gone； and the snow； and Robin the Redbreast；
Boasted on bush and tree it was he； it was he and no other
That had covered with leaves the Babes in the Wood； and blithely
All the birds sang with him； and little cared for his boasting；
Or for his Babes in the Wood； or the Cruel Uncle； and only
Sang for the mates they had chosen； and cared for the nests they
were building。
With them； but more sedately and meekly； Elizabeth Haddon
Sang in her inmost heart； but her lips were silent and songless。
Thus came the lovely spring with a rush of blossoms and music；
Flooding the earth with flowers； and the air with melodies
vernal。
Then it came to pass； one pleasant morning； that slowly
Up the road there came a cavalcade； as of pilgrims
Men and women； wending their way to the Quarterly Meeting
In the neighboring town； and with them came riding John Estaugh。
At Elizabeth's door they stopped to rest； and alighting
Tasted the currant wine； and the bread of rye； and the honey
Brought from the hives； that stood by the sunny wall of the
garden；
Then remounted their horses； refreshed； and continued their
journey；
And Elizabeth with them； and Joseph； and Hannah the housemaid。
But； as they started； Elizabeth lingered a little； and leaning
Over her horse's neck； in a whisper said to John Estaugh
〃Tarry awhile behind； for I have something to tell thee；
Not to be spoken lightly； nor in the presence of others；
Them it concerneth not； only thee and me it concerneth。〃
And they rode slowly along through the woods； conversing
together。
It was a pleasure to breathe the fragrant air of the forest；
It was a pleasure to live on that bright and happy May morning！
Then Elizabeth said； though still with a certain reluctance；
As if impelled to reveal a secret she fain would have guarded：
〃I will no longer conceal what is laid upon me to tell thee；
I have received from the Lord a charge to love thee； John
Estaugh。〃
And John Estaugh made answer； surprised by the words she had
spoken；
〃Pleasant to me are thy converse； thy ways； thy meekness of
spirit；
Pleasant thy frankness of speech； and thy soul's immaculate
whiteness；
Love without dissimulation； a holy and inward adorning。
But I have yet no light to lead me； no voice to direct me。
When the Lord's work is done； and the toil and the labor
completed
He hath appointed to me； I will gather into the stillness
Of my own heart awhile； and listen and wait for his guidance。〃
Then Elizabeth said； not troubled nor wounded in spirit；
〃So is it best； John Estaugh。 We will not speak of it further。
It hath been laid upon me to tell thee this； for to…morrow
Thou art going away； across the sea； and I know not
When I shall see thee more； but if the Lord hath decreed it；
Thou wilt return again to seek me here and to find me。〃
And they rode onward in silence； and entered the town with the
others。
IV
Ships that pass in the night； and speak each other in passing；
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness；
So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another；
Only a look and a voice； then darkness again and a silence。
Now went on as of old the quiet life of the homestead。
Patient and unrepining Elizabeth labored； in all things
Mindful not of herself； but bearing the burdens of others；
Always thoughtful and kind and untroubled； and Hannah the
housemaid
Diligent early and late； and rosy with washing and scouring；
Still as of old disparaged the eminent merits of Joseph；
And was at times reproved for her light and frothy behavior；
For her shy looks； and her careless words； and her evil
surmisings；
Being pressed down somewhat like a cart with sheaves overladen；
As she would sometimes say to Joseph； quoting the Scriptures。
Meanwhile John Estaugh departed across the sea； and departing
Carried hid in his heart a secret sacred and precious；
Filling its chambers with fragrance； and seeming to him in its
sweetness
Mary's ointment of spikenard； that filled all the house with its
odor。
O lost days of delight； that are wasted in doubting and waiting！
O lost hours and days in which we might have been happy！
But the light shone at last； and guided his wavering footsteps；
And at last came the voice； imperative； questionless； certain。
Then John Estaugh came back o'er the sea for the gift that was
offered；
Better than houses and lands； the gift of a woman's affection。
And on the First…Day that followed； he rose in the Silent
Assembly；
Holding in his strong hand a hand that trembled a little；
Promising to be kind and true and faithful in all things。
Such were the marriage…rites of John and Elizabeth Estaugh。
And not otherwise Joseph； the honest； the diligent servant；
Sped in his bashful wooing with homely Hannah the housemaid；
For when he asked her the question； she answered； 〃Nay〃； and then
added
〃But thee may make believe； and see what will come of it；
Joseph。〃
INTERLUDE
〃A pleasant and a winsome tale；〃
The Student said； 〃thoug