282. The Journey of Rheinfrid

is nothing more than these: wind and
smoke and a dream and a flower. But
though all have fled from thee and left thee
to die alone in grievous plight, this night
thou shalt not die.”

Then he was bidden to rise on the mor-
row —“‘for strength shall be given thee,”
said the Child— and travel with the sun
westward till he came to the Abbey of Egwin,
and there he must tell the Abbot all that had
befallen him.

“And the good Abbot will receive thee
among his sons,” said the Child; “and after
that, in a little while, thou shalt go on a
journey, and then again in a little while shalt
come to me.”

On the morrow Rheinfrid the thane rose
from his bed hale and strong, but his whole
nature was changed; and he made no more
account of life and of all that makes life
sweet —as honour and wealth and joy and
use and the love of man and woman —
than one makes of wind and smoke and a
dream and a flower; and all that he greatly
desired was to undertake the journey which
had been foretold, and to see once more the
Child of the Roses.