AT THE RIVER'S EDGE 11 



upon suddenly through slow clouds. Wliat she would 

 not have understood is the physical love, frosted 

 cunningly with spiritual, that is the romance of to-day ; 

 if any downfall of virtue shook her community (and 

 rarely was it so shaken), she said, in chorus with 

 her fellows, " Why wouldn't she mind herself? " 



Wlien Anagtasia tended the sick, as she did at 

 intervals through the night, she was clumsy in 

 movement yet swift, perceptive yet unmoved, patient, 

 but from philosophy rather than from that tenderness 

 that has its heart within the need of its tended one. 



The night had clouded over, and when the dawn 

 came it was a long and gentle growth of greyness, 

 without a sunrise in it. The song of the robin trickled 

 through the stillness, like a string of little silver 

 beads across a sad embroidery; at the other side of 

 the river a bell in the whitewashed convent intoned 

 in a clear treble, and christened the day to its faith 

 and purpose. The quiet hopelessness of the sick- 

 room ceased to be the central thing in life; others 

 were travelling on the same road and would reach 

 the same gate. 



Anastasia had gone out to the kitchen, where 

 activities of an intermittent sort had sprung up. 

 A girl was rattling tin cans, and humming a song 

 that I had heard before : 



" Oh, I bought my love a dandy cap. 

 Oh yes, indeed, a dandy cap ; 

 I bought my love a dandy cap, 

 With eight and thirty borders. 



" Oh, beela shula geelahoo, 

 Oh, gra mackree, for ever you. 

 Oh, beela shula geelahoo. 

 Indeed you are my darling. 



" Oh, I wish I was in Galway Town, 

 Oh yes, indeed, in Galway Town; 

 I wish I was in Galway Town, 

 It's there Fd meet my darling." 



