The Lady of the Shroud

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

RUPERT'S JOURNAL--Continued.

                                          & nbsp;                July 3, 1907.

There is no anodyne but work to pain of the heart; and my pain is all of

the heart.  I sometimes feel that it is rather hard that with so much to

make me happy I cannot know happiness.  How can I be happy when my wife,

whom I fondly love, and who I know loves me, is suffering in horror and

loneliness of a kind which is almost beyond human belief?  However, what

is my loss is my country's gain, for the Land of the Blue Mountains is my

country now, despite the fact that I am still a loyal subject of good

King Edward.  Uncle Roger took care of that when he said I should have

the consent of the Privy Council before I might be naturalized anywhere

else.

When I got home yesterday morning I naturally could not sleep.  The

events of the night and the bitter disappointment that followed my

exciting joy made such a thing impossible.  When I drew the curtain over

the window, the reflection of the sunrise was just beginning to tinge the

high-sailing clouds in front of me.  I laid down and tried to rest, but

without avail.  However, I schooled myself to lie still, and at last, if

I did not sleep, was at least quiescent.

Disturbed by a gentle tap at the door, I sprang up at once and threw on a

dressing gown.  Outside, when I opened the door, was Aunt Janet.  She was

holding a lighted candle in her hand, for though it was getting light in

the open, the passages were still dark.  When she saw me she seemed to

breathe more freely, and asked if she might come in.

Whilst she sat on the edge of my bed, in her old-time way, she said in a

hushed voice:

"Oh, laddie, laddie, I trust yer burden is no too heavy to bear."

"My burden!  What on earth do you mean, Aunt Janet?" I said in reply.  I

did not wish to commit myself by a definite answer, for it was evident

that she had been dreaming or Second Sighting again.  She replied with

the grim seriousness usual to her when she touched on occult matters:

"I saw your hairt bleeding, laddie.  I kent it was yours, though how I

kent it I don't know.  It lay on a stone floor in the dark, save for a

dim blue light such as corpse-lights are.  On it was placed a great book,

and close around were scattered many strange things, amongst them two

crowns o' flowers--the one bound wi' silver, the other wi' gold.  There

was also a golden cup, like a chalice, o'erturned.  The red wine trickled

from it an' mingled wi' yer hairt's bluid; for on the great book was some