XXIV + 

вАЬFrederвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАК?вАЭ said the soft Madonna-voice. + 

вАЬYes, you beloved! Speak to me! Speak to me!вАЭ + 

вАЬWhere are we?вАЭ + 

вАЬIn the cathedral.вАЭ + 

вАЬIs it day or night?вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is day.вАЭ + 

вАЬWasnвАЩt your father here, with us, just now?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, you beloved.вАЭ + 

вАЬHis hand was on my hair?вАЭ + 

вАЬYou felt it?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh Freder, while your father was standing here it seemed to me as though I heard a spring rushing within a rock. A spring, weighted with salt, and red with blood. But I knew too: when the spring is strong enough to break out through the rock, then it will be sweeter than the dew and whiter than the light.вАЭ + 

вАЬBless you for your belief, MariaвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ + 

She smiled. She fell silent. + 

вАЬWhy donвАЩt you open your eyes, you beloved?вАЭ asked FrederвАЩs longing mouth. + 

вАЬI see,вАЭ she answered. вАЬI see, FrederвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ I see a city, standing in the lightвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ + 

вАЬShall I build it?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, Freder. Not you. Your father.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy father?вАЭ + 

вАЬYesвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ + 

вАЬMaria when you spoke of my father, before, this tone of love was not in your voiceвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ + 

вАЬSince then much has taken place, Freder. Since then, within a rock, a spring has come to life, heavy with salt and red with blood. Since then Joh FredersenвАЩs hair has turned snow-white with deadly fear for his son. Since then have those whom I called my brothers sinned from excessive suffering. Since then has Joh Fredersen suffered from excessive sin. Will you not allow them both, FrederвБ†вАФyour father as well as my brothersвБ†вАФto pay for their sin, to atone, to become reconciled?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, Maria.вАЭ + 

вАЬWill you help them, you mediator?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, Maria.вАЭ + 

She opened her eyes and turned the gentle wonder of their blue towards him. Bending low above her, he saw, in pious astonishment, how the gay-coloured heavenly kingdom of saintly legends, which looked down upon her from out the lofty, narrow church-windows, was reflected in her Madonna-eyes. + 

Involuntarily he raised his eyes to become aware, for the first time, of whither he had borne the girl whom he loved. + 

вАЬGod is looking at us!вАЭ he whispered, gathering her up to his heart, with longing arms. вАЬGod is smiling to us, Maria.вАЭ + 

вАЬAmen,вАЭ said the girl at his heart. + 