Overall, The Library Held A Hushed Exultation,

This Wife You Have, Bird Said At Last, Deeply Contemplative, Did You Pay A Great Deal For Her? She Cost Me Almost Everything I Had, He Said, With A Wry Tone That Made The Others Laugh. But Worth It.

Forgiveness Is Not A Single Act, But A Matter Of Constant Practice

Through Eons Of Living In A Land So Poor There Was Little To Eat But Oats, They Had As Usual Converted Necessity Into A Virtue, And Insisted That They Liked The Stuff.

I Thought The Force Of My Wanting Must Wake Ye, Surely. And Then Ye Did Come. . ." He Stopped, Looking At Me With Eyes Gone Soft And Dark. "christ, Claire, Ye Were So Beautiful, There On The Stair, Wi' Your Hair Down And The Shadow Of Your Body With The Light Behind Ye…." He Shook His Head Slowly. "i Did Think I Should Die, If I Didna Have Ye," He Said Softly. "just Then.

If It Was A Sin For You To Choose Me . . . Then I Would Go To The Devil Himself And Bless Him For Tempting Ye To It.