The Bars of Iron

by Ethel M. Dell

  CHAPTER IV

  THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

  For a week after Piers' arrival, Jeanie was better, so much better thatshe was able to be carried downstairs and into the garden where she lovedto lie. There was a piano in the sitting-room, and Piers would sit at itby the hour together, playing anything she desired. She loved his music,would listen entranced for any length of time while he led her through aworld of delight that she had never explored before. It soothed herrestlessness, comforted her in weariness, made her forget her pain. Andthen the summer weather broke. There came a spell of rainy days that madethe garden impossible, and immediately Jeanie's strength began to wane.It went from her very gradually. She suffered but little, save when herbreathing or her cough troubled her. But it was evident to them all thather little craft was putting out to sea at last.

  Piers went steadfastly on with the _role_ he had assigned to himself. Henever by word or look reminded Avery of the compact between them. Hemerely took her support for granted, and--probably in consequence ofthis--it never failed him.

  The nurse declared him to be invaluable. He always had a salutary effectupon her patient. For even more than at the sight of Avery did Jeaniebrighten at his coming, and she was always happy alone with him. It evenoccurred to Avery sometimes that her presence was scarcely needed, socompletely were they at one in understanding and sympathy.

  One evening, entering the room unexpectedly, she found Piers on his kneesbeside the bed. He rose instantly and made way for her in a fashion shecould not ignore; but, though Jeanie greeted her with evident pleasure,it was obvious that for the moment she was not needed, and an odd littlepang went through her with the knowledge.

  Piers left the room almost immediately, and in a few moments they heardhim at the piano downstairs.

  "May I have the door open?" whispered Jeanie.

  Avery opened it, and drawing up a chair sat down with her work atthe bedside.

  And then, slowly rolling forth, there came that wonderful music withwhich he had thrilled her soul at the very beginning of his courtship.

  Wordless, magnificent, the great anthem swelled through the falling dusk,and like a vision the unutterable arose and possessed her soul. Her eyesbegan to behold the Land that is very far off.

  And then, throbbing through the wonder of that vision, she heard thecoming of the vast procession. It was like a dream, and yet it was whollyreal. As yet lost in distance, veiled in mystery, she heard the tread ofthe coming host.

  Her hands were fast gripped together; she forgot all beside. It was as ifthe eyes of her soul had been opened, and she looked upon the Infinite. Avoice at her side began to speak, or was it the voice of her own heart?It was only a whisper, but every word of it pierced her consciousness.She listened with parted lips.

  "I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon himwas called Faithful and True ... His Eyes were as a flame of fire and onHis Head were many crowns.... And He was clothed with a vesture dipped inblood.... And the armies which were in Heaven followed Him upon whitehorses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.... And He treadeth thewine-press.... He treadeth the wine-press...."

  The voice paused. Avery was listening with bated breath for more. But itdid not come at once. Only the Veil began to lift, so that she saw theOpening Gates and the Glory behind them.

  Then, and not till then, the dream-voice spoke again. "Surely--surely Hehath borne our griefs, and carried--our sorrows.... And the Lord hathlaid on Him--the iniquity of us all." The music crashed intowonder-chords such as Avery had never heard before, swelled to a climaxthat reached the Divine, held her quivering as it were upon wings in aspace that was more transcendent than the highest mountain-top;--thensoftly, strangely, died....

  "That is Heaven," whispered the voice by her side. "Oh, Avery, won't itbe nice when we are all there together?"

  But Avery sat as one in a trance, rapt and still. She felt as if thespirit had been charmed out of her body, and she did not want to return.

  A little thin hand slid into hers and clasped it close, recalling her."Wasn't it beautiful?" said Jeanie. "He said he would make me see theKingdom of Heaven. You saw it too, dear Avery, didn't you?"

  Yes, Avery had seen it too. She still felt as if the earth were very farbelow them both.

  Jeanie's voice had grown husky, but she still spoke in a tremulouswhisper. "Did you see the Open Gates, dear Avery? He says they are nevershut. And anyone who can reach them will be let in,--it doesn't matterwho. Do you know, I think Piers is different from what he used to be? Ithink he is learning to love God."

  Absolutely simple words! Why did they send such a rush offeeling--tumultuous, indescribable feeling--through Avery? Was this theexplanation? Was this how it came to pass that he treated her with thataloof reverence day by day? Was he indeed learning the supreme lesson toworship God with love?

  She sat for a while longer with Jeanie, till, finding her drowsy, sheslipped downstairs.

  Piers was sitting in the hall, deep in a newspaper. He rose at hercoming with an abruptness suggestive of surprise, and stood waiting forher to speak.

  But curiously the only words that she could utter were of a trivialnature. She had come to him indeed, drawn by a power irresistible, butthe moment she found herself actually in his presence she felttongue-tied, helpless.

  "Don't you want a light?" she said nervously. "I am sure you can'tsee to read."

  He stood silent for a moment, and the old tormenting doubt began to risewithin her. Would he think she desired to make an overture? Would he takefor granted that because his magnetism had drawn her he could do with heras he would?

  And then very quietly he spoke, and she experienced an odd revulsion offeeling that was almost disappointment.

  "Have you been reading the papers lately?"

  She had not. Jeanie occupied all her waking thoughts.

  He glanced down at the sheet he held. "There is going to be a bust-up onthe Continent," he said, and there was that in his tone--a grimelation--which puzzled her at the moment. "The mightiest bust-up theworld has ever known. We're in for it, Avery; in for the very deuce of arow." His voice vibrated suddenly. He stopped as though to check someheadlong force that threatened to carry him away.

  Avery stood still, feeling a sick horror of impending disaster at herheart. "What can you mean?" she said.

  He leaned his hands upon the table facing her, and she saw in his eyesthe primitive, savage joy of battle. "I mean war," he said. "Oh, it'shorrible; yes, of course it's horrible. But it'll bring us to our senses.It'll make men of us yet."

  She shrank from his look. "Piers! Not--not a European war!"

  He straightened himself slowly. "Yes," he said. "It will be that.But there's nothing to be scared about. It'll be the salvation ofthe Empire."

  "Piers!" she gasped again through white lips. "But modern warfare! Modernweapons! It's Germany of course?"

  "Yes, Germany." He stretched up his arms with a wide gesture and let themfall. "Germany who is going to cut out all the rot of party politics andbind us together as one man! Germany who is going to avert civil war andteach us to love our neighbours! Nothing short of this would have savedus. We've been a mere horde of chattering monkeys lately. Now--all thanksto Germany!--we're going to be men!"

  "Or murderers!" said Avery.

  The word broke from her involuntarily, she scarcely knew that she haduttered it until she saw his face. Then in a flash she saw what she haddone, for he had the sudden tragic look of a man who has received hisdeath-wound.

  He made her a curious stiff bow as if he bent himself with difficulty.His face at that moment was whiter than hers, but his eyes glowed redwith a deep anger.

  "I shall remember that," he said, "when I go to fight for my country."

  With the words he turned to the door. But she cried after him, dismayed,incoherent.

  "Oh Piers, you know--you know--I didn't mean that!"

  He did not pause or look back. "Nevertheless you said it," he rejoined
in a tone that made her feel as if he had flung an icy shower of water inher face; and the next moment she heard his quick tread on the gardenpath and realized that he was gone.

  It was useless to attempt to follow him. Her knees were trembling underher. Moreover, she knew that she must return to Jeanie. White-lipped,quivering, she moved to the stairs.

  He had utterly misunderstood her; she had but voiced the horrifiedthought that must have risen in the minds of thousands when first broughtface to face with that world-wide tragedy. But he had read a personalmeaning into her words. He had deemed her deliberately cruel, ungenerous,bitter. That he could thus misunderstand her set her heart bleedingafresh. Oh, they were better apart! How was it possible that there couldever be any confidence, any intimacy, between them again?

  Tears, scalding, blinding tears ran suddenly down her face. She bowed herhead in her hands, leaning upon the banisters....

  A voice called to her from above, and she started. What was she doing,weeping here in selfish misery, when Jeanie--Swiftly she commandedherself and mounted the stairs. The nurse met her at the top.

  "The little one isn't so well," she said. "I thought she was asleep, butI am afraid she is unconscious."

  "Oh, nurse, and I left her!"

  There was a sound of such heart-break in Avery's voice that the nurse'sgrave face softened in sympathy.

  "My dear, you couldn't have done anything," she said. "It is just theweakness before the end, and we can do nothing to avert it. What abouther mother? Can she come?"

  Avery shook her head in despair. "Not for a week."

  "Ah!" the nurse said; and that was all. But Avery knew in that momentthat only a few hours more remained ere little Jeanie Lorimer passedthrough the Open Gates.

  She would not go to bed that night though the child lay whollyunconscious of her. She knew that she could not sleep.

  She did not see Piers again till late. The nurse slipped down to tell himof Jeanie's condition, and he came up, white and sternly composed, andstood for many minutes watching the slender, quick-breathing figure thatlay propped among pillows, close to the open window.

  Avery could not look at his face during those minutes; she dared not. Butwhen he turned away at length he bent and spoke to her.

  "Are you going to stay here?"

  "Yes," she whispered.

  He made no attempt to dissuade her. All he said was, "May I wait in yourroom? I shall be within call there."

  "Of course," she answered.

  "And you will call me if there is any change?"

  "Of course," she said again.

  He nodded briefly and left her.

  Then began the long, long night-watch. It was raining, and the night wasvery dark. The slow, deep roar of the sea rose solemnly and filled thequiet room. The tide was coming in. They could hear the water shoalingalong the beach.

  How often Avery had listened to it and loved the sound! To-night itfilled her soul with awe, as the Voice of Many Waters.

  Slowly the night wore on, and ever that sound increased in volume,swelling, intensifying, like the coming of a mighty host as yet far off.The rain pattered awhile and ceased. The sea-breeze blew in, salt andpure. It stirred the brown tendrils of hair on Jeanie's forehead, andeddied softly through the room.

  The nurse sat working beside a hooded lamp that threw her grave, strongface into high relief, but only accentuated the shadows in the rest ofthe room. Avery sat close to the bed, not praying, scarcely thinking,waiting only for the opening of the Gates. And in that hour shelonged,--oh, how passionately!--that when they opened she also might bepermitted to pass through.

  It was in the darkest hour of the night that the tide began to turn. Shelooked almost instinctively for a change but none came. Jeanie stirrednot, save when the nurse stooped over her to give her nourishment, andeach time she took less and less.

  The tide receded. The night began to pass. There came a faint greynessbefore the window. The breeze freshened.

  And very suddenly the breathing to which Avery had listened all the nightpaused, ceased for a second or two, then broke into the sharp sigh of oneawaking from sleep.

  She rose quickly, and the nurse looked up. Jeanie's eyes dark, unearthly,unafraid, were opened wide.

  She gazed at Avery for a moment as if slightly puzzled. Then, in a faintwhisper: "Has Piers said good-night?" she asked.

  "No, darling. But he is waiting to. I will call him," Avery said.

  "Quickly!" whispered the nurse, as she passed her.

  Swiftly, noiselessly, Avery went to her own room. But some premonition ofher coming must have reached him; for he met her on the threshold.

  His eyes questioned hers for a moment, and then together they turned backto Jeanie's room. No words passed between them. None were needed.

  Jeanie's face was turned towards the door. Her eyes looked beyond Averyand smiled a welcome to Piers. He came to her, knelt beside her.

  "Dear Sir Galahad!" she said.

  He shook his head. "No, Jeanie, no!"

  She was panting. He slipped his arm under the pillow to support her. Sheturned her face to his.

  "Oh, Piers," she breathed, "I do--so--want you--to be happy."

  "I am happy, sweetheart," he said.

  But Jeanie's vision was stronger in that moment than it had ever beenbefore, and she was not deceived. "You are not happy, dear Piers," shesaid. "Avery is not happy either."

  Piers turned slightly. "Come here, Avery!" he said.

  The old imperious note was in his voice, yet with a difference. Hestretched his free hand up to her, drawing her down to his side, and asshe knelt also he passed his arm about her, pressing her to him.

  Jeanie's eyes were upon them both, dying eyes that shone with a mysticglory. They saw the steadfast resolution in Piers' face as he held hiswife against his heart. They saw the quivering hesitation with whichshe yielded.

  "You're not happy--yet," she whispered. "But you will be happy."

  Thereafter she seemed to slip away from them for a space, losing touch asit were, yet still not beyond their reach. Once or twice she seemed to betrying to pray, but they could not catch her words.

  The dawn-light grew stronger before the window. The sound of the waveshad sunk to a low murmuring. From where she knelt Avery could see thefar, dim line of sea. Piers' arm was still about her. She felt as thoughthey two were kneeling apart before an Altar invisible, waiting to receivea blessing.

  Jeanie's breathing was growing less hurried. She seemed already beyondall earthly suffering. Yet her eyes also watched that far dim sky-line asthough they waited for a sign.

  Slowly the light deepened, the shadows began to lift. Piers' eyes werefixed unswervingly upon the child's quiet face. The light of the comingDawn was reflected there. The great Change was very near at hand.

  Far away to the left there grew and spread a wondrous brightness. The skyseemed to recede, turned from grey to misty blue. A veil of cloud thathad hidden the stars all through the night dissolved softly into shredsof gold, and across the sea with a diamond splendour there shot the firstgreat ray of sunlight.

  It was then that Jeanie seemed to awake, to rise as it were from thedepths of reverie. Her eyes widened, grew intense; then suddenlythey smiled.

  She sought to raise herself, and never knew that it was by Piers'strength alone that she was lifted. She gave a gasp that was almost acry, but it was gladness not pain that it expressed.

  For a few panting moments she gazed out as one rapt in delight, gazingfrom a mountain-peak upon a wider view than earthly eyes could compass.

  Then eagerly she turned to Piers. "I saw Heaven opened ..." she said,and in her low voice there throbbed a rapture that could not beuttered in words.

  She would have said more, but something stopped her. She made agesture as though she would clasp him round the neck, failed, and sankdown in his arms.

  He held her closely to him, and so holding her, felt the last quiveringbreath slip from the little tired body....