Away and up the hill they went; the hidden torrent of Joan's blood
flowed clearer; her heart sang to her soul; and everything began to
look like a thing in a story--herself a princess, and her attendant
a younger brother, travelling with her to meet the tide of
in-flowing lovely adventure. Such a brother was a luxury she had
never had--very different from an older one. He talked so strangely
too--now like a child, now like an old man! She felt a charm in
both, but understood neither. Capable, through confidence in his
father, of receiving wisdom far beyond what he could have thought
out for himself, he sometimes said things because he understood
them, which seemed to most who heard them beyond his years. Some
people only understand enough of a truth to reject it, but Cosmo's
reception by faith turned to sight, as all true faith does at last,
and formed a soil for thought more immediately his own.
They had been climbing a steep ascent, very difficult in the snow,
and had at length reached the top, where they stood for a moment
panting, with another ascent beyond them.
"Aren't you always wanting to climb and climb, Lady Joan?" said the
boy.
"Call me Joan, and I will answer you."
"Then, Joan,--how kind you are! Don't you always want to be getting
up?--up higher than you are?"
"No; I don't think I do."
"I believe you do, only you don't know it. When I get on the top of
yon hill there, it always seems to me such a little way up!--and
Mr.
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