262 ALONGSHORE iv 



the tides take up and roll about the shore, and 

 fell. 



Whether in dream or not, he was within the 

 Black Abbey. Blue and green was the floor of 

 it, like the sea; of black rock were its pillars; and 

 in the roof was darkness. There was no sound 

 save the throb and swish of the waters leaping 

 against its walls. The man and the Rock-Woman 

 were together before the altar; at the head of 

 which was written promise; but on the face of it 

 was written yearn. Sheen of the sea and sheen 

 of the moon swept through the Black Abbey, and 

 lingered around its pillars and cornices, and 

 flooded its arches. And the light was music; for 

 in this place the roaring of the waves is a kind of 

 silence. The spirit of the sea, when it is hushed 

 before storm, and streaked with smoothness, 

 went slowly, like a deep breathing, through the 

 Black Abbey. 



The wedding was complete. The Rock- 

 Woman called the man to her. Joy lightened 

 her face, but when he looked into her eyes, he saw 

 there the whelming of a ship. It sank behind 

 waves; it lurched high above the great dark 

 troughs; white horses hunted it, and frothed 

 upon its decks. It staggered like a hero dying. 



