"iwoke early in my cot in the men's dormitory at rila; sunshine was just beginning to come through the small windows, which looked out on the courtyard, and some of the other tourists were still sound asleep on the other cots. i'd heard the earliest call of the church bell, in the dark, and now that bell was tolling again. my first thought on waking this time was that helen had said she would marry me. i wanted to see her again, to see her as soon as possible, to find a moment to ask her if yesterday had been a dream. the sunshine that filled the courtyard outside was an echo of my sudden happiness, and the morning air seemed to me unbelievably fresh, full of centuries of freshness.

"but helen was not at breakfast. ranov was there, sullen as ever, smoking, until a monk asked him gently to go outside with his cigarette. as soon as the meal was over, i went along the corridor to the women's row, where helen and i had parted the night before, and found the door standing open. the other women, the czechs and germans, had gone, leaving their beds neatly made. helen was still asleep, apparently; i could see her form in the cot nearest the window. she was turned toward the wall, and i stepped in, silently, reasoning that she was my fianc