There was no punishment.

The tender little creature grew as a blossom grows from bud to fairest bloom.

His mother flowered as he, and spent her days in noble cherishing of him and tender care.

Such motherhood and wifehood as were hers were as fair statues raised to Nature's self.
"Once I thought that I was under ban," she said to her lord in one of their sweetest hours; "but I have been given love and a life, and so I know it cannot be.

Do I fill all your being, Gerald ?" "All, all!" he cried, "my sweet, sweet woman." "Leave I no longing unfulfilled, no duty undone, to you, dear love, to the world, to human suffering I might aid?
I pray Christ with all passionate humbleness that I may not." "He grants your prayer," he answered, his eyes moist with worshipping tenderness.
"And this white soul given to me from the outer bounds we know not--it has no stain; and the little human body it wakened to life in--think you that Christ will help me to fold them in love high and pure enough, and teach the human body to do honour to its soul?
'Tis not monkish scorn of itself that I would teach the body; it is so beautiful and noble a thing, and so full of the power of joy.