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〃Let us fix all the thoughts of our hearts on the life in which He may
let us be together once more。 Look； Boris； there are lights in the
darkness； there will always be lights。〃
〃I can't see them；〃 he said。
She looked at him and saw that tears were running down his cheeks。
Again； on this last night of companionship； God summoned her to be
strong for him。 On the edge of the hill； close to them； she saw a
Moorish temple built of marble； with narrow arches and columns； and
marble seats。
〃Let us sit here for a moment； Boris；〃 she said。
He followed her up the marble steps。 Two or three times he stumbled；
but she did not give him her hand。 They sat down between the slender
columns and looked out over the city； whose blanched domes and
minarets were faintly visible in the night。 Androvsky was shaken with
sobs。
〃How can I part from you？〃 he said brokenly。 〃How am I to do it？ How
can Ihow can I？ Why was I given this love for you； this terrible
thing； this crying out； this reaching out of the flesh and heart and
soul to you？ DominiDominiwhat does it all meanthis mystery of
torturethis scourging of the bodythis tearing in pieces of my soul
and yours？ Domini； shall we knowshall we ever know？〃
〃I am sure we shall know； we shall all know some day； the meaning of
the mystery of pain。 And then； perhaps； then surely； we shall each of
us be glad that we have suffered。 The suffering will make the glory of
our happiness。 Even now sometimes when I am suffering； Boris； I feel
as if there were a kind of splendour； even a kind of nobility in what
I am doing； as if I were proving my own soul； proving the force that
God has put into me。 Boris； let usyou and Ilearn to say in all
this terror； 'I am unconquered； I am unconquerable。'〃
〃I feel that I could say that； be it in the most frightful
circumstances； if only I could sometimes see youeven far away as now
I see those lights。〃
〃You will see me in your prayers every day； and I shall see you in
mine。〃
〃But the cry of the body； Domini； of the eyes； of the hands； to see；
to touchit's so fierce； it's soit's so〃
〃I know； I hear it too； always。 But there is another voice； which will
be strong when the other has faded into eternal silence。 In all bodily
things； even the most beautiful； there is something finite。 We must
reach out our poor； feeble； trembling hands to the infinite。 I think
everyone who is born does that through life； often without being
conscious of it。 We shall do it consciously； you and I。 We shall be
able to do it because of our dreadful suffering。 We shall want； we
shall have to do it； youwhere you are going； and I〃
〃Where will you be？〃
〃I don't know； I don't know。 I won't think of the afterwards now； in
these last few hoursin these last〃
Her voice faltered and broke。 Then the tears came to her also； and for
a while she could not see the distant lights。
Then she spoke again； she said：
〃Boris； let us go now。〃
He got up without a word。 They found the carriage and drove back to
Tunis。
When they reached the hotel they came into the midst of the American
tourists； who were excitedly discussing the dances they had seen； and
calling for cooling drinks to allay the thirst created by the heat of
the close rooms of Oriental houses。
Early next morning a carriage was at the door。 When they had got into
it the coachman looked round。
〃Where shall I drive to； Monsieur？〃
Androvsky looked at him and made no reply。
〃To El…Largani；〃 Domini said。
〃To the monastery； Madame？〃
He whistled to his horses gaily。 As they trotted on bells chimed about
their necks； chimed a merry peal to the sunshine that lay over the
land。 They passed soldiers marching； and heard the call of bugles； the
rattle of drums。 And each sound seemed distant and each moving figure
far away。 This world of Africa； fiercely distinct in the clear air
under the cloudless sky； was unreal to them both； was vague as a
northern land wrapped in a mist of autumn。 The unreal was about them。
Within themselves was the real。 They sat beside each other without
speaking。 Words to them now were useless things。 What more had they to
say？ Everything and nothing。 Lifetimes would not have been long enough
for them to speak their thoughts for each other； of each other； to
speak their emotions； all that was in their minds and hearts during
that drive from the city to the monastery that stood upon the hill。
Yet did not their mutual action of that morning say all that need be
said？ The silence of the Trappists surely floated out to them over the
plains and the pale waters of the bitter lakes and held them silent。
But the bells on the horses' necks rang always gaily； and the
coachman； who would presently drive Domini back alone to Tunis；
whistled and sang on his high seat。
Presently they came to a great wooden cross standing on a pedestal of
stone by the roadside at the edge of a grove of olive trees。 It marked
the beginning of the domain of El…Largani。 When Domini saw it she
looked at Androvsky； and his eyes answered her silent question。 The
coachman whipped his horses into a canter； as if he were in haste to
reach his destination。 He was thinking of the good red wine of the
monks。 In a cloud of white dust the carriage rolled onwards between
vineyards in which； here and there； labourers were working； sheltered
from the sun by immense straw hats。 A long line of waggons； laden with
barrels and drawn by mules covered with bells； sheltered from the
flies by leaves； met them。 In the distance Domini saw forests of
eucalyptus trees。 Suddenly it seemed to her as if she saw Androvsky
coming from them towards the white road； helping a man who was pale；
and who stumbled as if half…fainting； yet whose face was full of a
fierce passion of joythe stranger whose influence had driven him out
of the monastery into the world。 She bent down her head and hid her
face in her hands； praying； praying with all her strength for courage
in this supreme moment of her life。 But almost directly the prayers
died on her lips and in her heart； and she found herself repeating the
words of /The Imitation/：
〃Love watcheth； and sleeping； slumbereth not。 When weary it is not
tired； when straitened it is not constrained； when frightened it is
not disturbed； but like a vivid flame and a burning torch it mounteth
upwards and securely passeth through all。 Whosoever loveth knoweth the
cry of this voice。〃
Again and again she said the words： 〃It securely passeth through all
it securely passeth through all。〃 Now； at last； she was to know the
uttermost truth of those words which she had loved in her happiness；
which she clung to now as a little child clings to its father's hand。
The carriage turned to the right； went on a little way； then stopped。
Domini lifted her face from her hands。 She saw before her a great door
which stood open。 Above it was a statue of the Madonna and Child； and
on either side were two angels with swords and stars。 Underneath was
written； in great letters：
JANUA COELI。
Beyond； through the doorway； she saw an open space upon which the
sunlight streamed； three palm trees； and a second door which was shut。
Above this s