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them coming； and even guessed her thought。
〃Maiden；〃 he said in his gentle voice； 〃maiden who soon shall be a
wife； I do not sleep； although I dream of you as I have dreamt before。
What did I say to you that day when first we met？ That for you I had
good tidings； that though death was all about you； you need not fear；
that in this place you who had known great sorrow should find
happiness and rest。 Yet； maiden； you would not believe the words of
the Munwali； spoken by his prophet's lips； as he at your side； who
shall be your husband； would not believe me in years past when I told
him that we should meet again。〃
〃Father；〃 she answered； 〃I thought your rest was that which we find
only in the grave。〃
〃You would not believe；〃 he went on without heeding her； 〃and
therefore you tried to fly； and therefore your heart was torn with
terror and with agony； when it should have waited for the end in
confidence and peace。〃
〃Father； my trial was very sore。〃
〃Maiden； I know it； and because it was so sore that patient Spirit of
Bambatse bore with you； and through it all guided your feet aright。
Yes； with you has that Spirit gone； by day； by night； in the morning
and in the evening。 Who was it that smote the man who lies dead yonder
with horror and with madness when he would have bent your will to his
and made you a wife to him？ Who was it that told you the secret of the
treasure…pit； and what footsteps went before you down its stair？ Who
was it that led you past the sentries of the Amandabele and gave you
wit and power to snatch your lord's life from Maduna's bloody hand？
Yes； with you it has gone and with you it will go。 No more shall the
White Witch stand upon the pillar point at the rising of the sun； or
in the shining of the moon。〃
〃Father； I have never understood you； and I do not understand you
now；〃 said Benita。 〃What has this spirit to do with me？〃
He smiled a little； then answered slowly：
〃That I may not tell you； that you shall learn one day； but never
here。 When you also have entered into silence； then you shall learn。
But I say to you that this shall not be till your hair is as white as
mine； and your years are as many。 Ah！ you thought that I had deserted
you； when fearing for your father's life you wept and prayed in the
darkness of the cave。 Yet it was not so； for I did but suffer the doom
which I had read to fulfil itself as it must do。〃
He rose to his feet and； resting on his staff； laid one withered hand
upon the head of Benita。
〃Maiden；〃 he said； 〃we meet no more beneath the sun。 Yet because you
have brought deliverance to my people； because you are sweet and pure
and true； take with you the blessing of Munwali； spoken by the mouth
of his servant Mambo； the old Molimo of Bambatse。 Though from time to
time you must know tears and walk in the shade of sorrows； long and
happy shall be your days with him whom you have chosen。 Children shall
spring up about you； and children's children； and with them also shall
the blessing go。 The gold you white folk love is yours； and it shall
multiply and give food to the hungry and raiment to those that are
a…cold。 Yet in your own heart lies a richer store that cannot melt
away； the countless treasure of mercy and of love。 When you sleep and
when you wake Love shall take you by the hand； till at length he leads
you through life's dark cave to that eternal house of purest gold
which soon or late those that seek it shall inherit；〃 and with his
staff he pointed to the glowing morning sky wherein one by one little
rosy clouds floated upwards and were lost。
To Robert and to Benita's misty eyes they looked like bright…winged
angels throwing wide the black doors of night； and heralding that
conquering glory at whose advent despair and darkness flee away。
End