in verity; for she knew my lady's contempt for gossip. E'en for the f

ilent. My lady laughed at her, with her deep eyes;

elsewhere." Then she reaches out one hand and plays with Marian's ruff. "Go to, nurse," says she. "Dost

eigh. She told how he had e'en been a brave lad, but how in Spain he had wed with a wife who played him false; how then he had vo

tly with her thumb and ring-finger, as one who is deep in thought.

bused, nurse, but chiefly for that which he hath never done. This wild lord, I doubt not, hath been

taking Marian with her, b

came in such wise, to bide for a day or two with his niece. A most courteous gentleman; red of face,

hy wife, the good Dame Marian-where is she? And how about

as my first-born might have had a hare-lip or a crook-back. Then did he toss m

certain villain of mine acquaintance, of whom you have doubtless heard;" and forthwith did he say to her of how the wicked Lord Denbeigh was the son of a friend and comrade, and of how he ha

a mouthful to stay me, and then set forth straightway in quest o'

the shape of Lord Denbeigh's nose, the color of his hair, and the height of his body. She forced me to wonder whether he were civil or rude of tongue. She pressed me to say whether I thought there was aye a chance of his returning with Sir

her two hands, and sets her chin against mine, so that I see four round blue eyes against her white brow, and am like to go bl

my ears right soundly. But I could not blame her, for in the wrong I was, without doubt, although verily she had plagued me into

side, "What dost thou say now?" quoth Marian, a-plucking me in a way that did not ser

ed I; and for this quip I w

the sound of the horses' feet, thinking only to greet her uncle. The red light from the west shone on her, and dabbled her white kirtle as with

my lady's, and there seemed to be ever some sunshine in it, as he moved his head. Methought his face was fair and goodly to look upon, albeit his lips went downward a

n them. I was ashamed of my own folly, when I did catch myself remembering Marian's silly sayings; but for all that, they did come back to me, as the words of a foolish woman will re

the night of the day on which Sir John had brought the stranger to Amhur

"Nurse, didst thou see Lo

aid that she

strange f

range,'

s eyes, 'Ye shall not be gentle.' His eyes say to his nose, 'Spread not thy nostrils so proudly.' His nose

lady's hair. My lady heeded it not, so

continued my lady. "Rather it speaks of rebe

an; but my lady was far away,

Then got she suddenly to her feet, and turned and took her nurse

sleep visited her lady's eyes that night. Through the darkness she could hear her t

'twas always some question of business that brought him. But my lady and he touched hands full oft during a week, and always he would look at her with a different look

as taken up with pondering as to why my lady should go in person to Dame Gobble's, seeing she might have sent me alone on Dumble as well. Be that as it may, as we rode along by a brook-side, under the thick leaves, whom should we com

ng herself from her saddle, and was beside the earl in a tr

g out her hand, "but te

de, saying. "Tis but a scratch;" but the

ch them. And she took his hand between her two fair hands (having drawn off her gloves), and saw that his wrist was deeply severed as with a knife. But she asked him no questions, telling him only to s

st wash my soul as tho

ar and honest, like a dog's (meaning no disrespect to

shing, my lord; but an hig

, "There is

s butter, and had stanched the blood, she unwound the ribbon from her silver hunting-horn, and cast it about his neck for a rest to his wounded arm. Then he did bend down his head and kissed the ribbon,

f a bit of gossip, she did smile in such a wise that I wa

tart at the clap o' a door, or when Herne did come suddenly upon her. And one day she leaned from a window, as I swept up the rose-leaves from the grass on the east terrace, and called to me to come thither. She was as white

ul servant unto me: therefore I am ab

thou canst trust me;" and in truth I cou

ontinued

e both deep interest. I cannot tell thee more. Take thy sword with thee, but have no fear-thou wilt hav

e?" Whereat she did put out her fair hand to me,

isit my heart concerning the bounty that the Lord had lavished upon one who was a barterer of wine, when I, who had lived ever a temperate and (in so far as was in my power) a godly life, should remain childless. But I did conquer at last, bidding Satan get behind me, and was left in peace to toast my feet, and to ponder as t

e in peace, and I, being settled safely in m

. He came and tossed himself into a chair near the fire, and sat there pondering upon the coals, with his legs out in front of him. Now, I have ever had a woman-weakness for a g

" quoth he, not unkindly. So I told

said, "and yet is thy face familiar. Wha

ly, being, to confess the

I ne'er forget a face; how, then, shall I forget a face such

I-blackly, mo

e; "but thy face is kno

e noted his entrance, being far gone in drink, and some having departed, and others asleep. The lad came and stood near the fire, and I saw that he looked at Lord Denbeigh from under his drooping bonnet-the earl having withdrawn unto a table apart, with a glass of wine and some papers, and his sword across the table. Even as

oth his lordship,

" quoth the

ou know how to handle thine own sword, th

off his bonnet and toss it upon the table, and the firelight and candlelight did leap upon his fair curls, and as I saw his f

ith, back of his

ed, leaning stil

is Robert, and I am the Lord of Amhurste and her brot

I believe not in them myself), and he saith, "Wh

he bo

abouts. As to thee, I know more concerning thee even than my

saith, "Fo

d he grew white as any woman. Almost I could have sworn it was my lady's face. Line for line, eyelash for eyelash, look for look. And methought no mother's heart e'er yearned towards her new-born babe as yearned my heart towards the youth. It seemed as though I must cry out

rehead set in his clasped h

ible. Would t

he la

le. Thou canst save thin

enbeigh an

word," and he did not lift up

han naught to thee, but to others its price is abo

said, "Thou wilt not go

man answer, sayi

ith my

there. Nay, thou canst not prevent me. And think you my sister's heart wil

h his stern eyes on

spent at my behest. I do

he la

r. And all at once the boy put out his hand ('twas my lady's very

s own heart did not thou le

h with a laugh that was

care. Even to my mind there doth come one more suiting; for ev

still with his han

o Christ, do make brothers of dragons? Verily, my lord, I am bold throug

d away as though