such measure as thou mayest. Therewith shall all things befall thee as the Lord God desireth. Unto me, Senta, it is vouchsafed to give thee vision, and a dream, even as I gave these things unto Flame, thy beloved. Sleep."

And Roseheart laid her down in the deep sleep as of a rosebud in the sun at mid-day, when life in a great tide flows and greatens, to the end that the rose may be full-blown. And the dream of Roseheart was on this wise: There was a woman in shining garments, fashioned full seemly of white silk that flowed and clung, revealing gracious lines of her form who walked stately-wise, with little children about her knees. Her form was radiance, and her eyes were stars. And The Starry-eyedin the fashion of her seeming, and in the faces of the children, was somewhat as it were a thing known and not known. Then beheld Roseheart the seeming of Flame, her beloved, looking in joy and reverence upon this woman whose form was radiance, and whose eyes were stars.

And Senta the Radiant One said unto Roseheart: "Behold and see if this be not she whom thou didst look upon at the last in the eyes of Flame whom thou lovest." And it was so, and Roseheart marveled.

Whereafter Senta bade her awake, and she awoke and pondered The Heart of the Maidthese things what they might mean. And in the heart of the maid there grew and strengthened the desire and the will to be as that woman of her dream, whose beauty was as music under the moon, and in all reverence beloved of her troth-plight, Flame. Thus are women ever, in their deep need to be in all ways that they may, the desired of their lord.

VII.

Roseheart Gives GreetingWHEN all things had become clear to Roseheart she arose swiftly, and went unto Telwyn the King, and the Queen her mother. And upon her face was a shining which was the shining of her soul. And she said unto them, "I give you greeting, my father and my mother."

And looking upon her they were glad exceedingly, and exchanged looks the one with the other, for that the face of The Going of WurRoseheart was no longer gray with grief.

First answered Ellaline, saying, "Greeting to thee, my daughter. Where now is Wur, that thou hast the look of happiness?"

Sudden wonder made wide the eyes of Roseheart. "In good sooth I know not," she answered. "I have not seen her at all any more since the coming of the Shining One."

Telwyn the King leaned him forward in eagerness, asking, "The Shining One? What meanest thou?"

Into the face of Roseheart came the far, wondering look of children, Roseheart, Her Taskbut in her heart was a song. "I know not," she made answer, "unless it was an angel of the Lord God, to shew me the things that I must do, and that which I must become." Herewith the voice of the maid grew wondrous sweet. "Of my garment of sorrow must I make raiment of joy to cover the nakedness of the poor. To the sick must I take the flowers of kindness that are now as snowdrops blossoming under the mantle of the winter of grief. I am to look into the eyes of the old and find patience, and into the hearts of children and find hope. And I am to tend the bed of pain, and ease the suffering of the sons of men in Telwyn Perceivethsuch measure as I may, that all things may befall me as the Lord God desireth."

Into the face of Telwyn there came a tenderness like that of women, and in his voice were the tears a man may not suffer in his eyes. "Great is the joy in my heart," he said, "for that thou art indeed become a woman. And well I wot that the Lord God is with thee, that thou knowest these things of wisdom."

And Ellaline, looking into the face of her daughter, drew her to her heart, and spake on this wise: "Deep grief has it been to me that in thy pain I might not The Queen Speakethhelp thee, but must leave thee to the care of Wur, that woman of sorrow. Nathless have I prayed for thee without ceasing. Blessed be the name of the Lord God that He hath found the Way for thee."

Now on the morrow when Telwyn the King went among his people, to see that all was well, and nought amiss that might be set right, he put Roseheart his daughter upon a white palfrey; and himself upon a mighty red horse, led her whithersoever he went, that she might see all things in the wisdom and tenderness newly come to her. And from his deep eyes like the caverns of the sky, he watched her, Telwyn and Roseheartas pity grew in her, and knowledge, and quick device of succor. Daylong they rode, at the noontide having bite and sup with a woodcutter and his wife, newly blessed with a fine man child. And Roseheart, taking the child in her arms, laughed and wept that he was so small and sweet, and for that he clung to her, and turned to her breast. And when the shadows grew long, and they set their faces toward the castle, the maid was sore weary, but she knew it not, for the pity in her, and the thought of all awry in the world that must be set right.

And it befell that she dreamed that night of a babe that lay Roseheart Steadfastupon her breast, and so sweet it was, that she woke weeping for very joy.

Thereafter daily the maid went forth with the King her father, or at whiles with the Queen her mother, whenas she was wont to say unto Telwyn with sweet gravity, "This is a matter for women, of which thou knowest nought."

And the King smiled in his beard at the woman-ways of her. But hours there were when that Roseheart was a-weary, and an-hungered for Flame, her troth-plight lord. Yet always, remembering her dream, she arose from grief, and with the Her Need and Desiretrouble of others, and what she might do for them, filled the emptiness of her heart. And so great was her need and desire to become as the woman of the great dream, that slowly as a slender moon fills with silver, or a rosebud greatens to fullness, did Roseheart the maid grow in fashion and seeming and good sooth toward the very truth of her desire, to be as that woman whose form was radiance and whose eyes were stars.

VIII.

Thrice Bloomed the RoseTHRICE the snowdrops came and went, thrice bloomed the rose; thrice the harvest ripened to the scythe, and winter flushed to spring, and Flame, son of Lokus, was not yet come from overseas to claim his promise of his troth-plight maiden.

Long had he wandered from land to land, seeking ever the shape of his dream. Ever he made forms of beauty with his hands, whatsoever he saw, and Flame Journeyethmen marveled thereat, so cunning-true they were, and skillful. And everywhere was he tempted with all