om his purpose (which, methought, must be a very strange and grewsome one, judging

me that she herself would be there shortly with Marian, and that they two would lodge at the house of Marian's aunt, one Mistress Pepper, a linen-draper's wife. At this I wondered greatly, the more that she should keep silent concerning her brothe

ire), but the next afternoon I marked him as he passed along a by-way, and heard him speak with

as, then straight to my lady and acquai

han a just washed sheep at shearing-time. Quoth I to myself, "Butt

, verily, was the earl and him with whom he had spoken in the afternoon. He had but said a word or so when Lord Robert entered, and went and sto

oth he. "

"I told thee I w

red him, "Dost thou kno

t catch. And the two men started and looked at one another. Then the earl did turn to his friend, saying to him that they could indeed trust the lad. So they three cla

er," quoth the earl, "but t

e in jeopardy." At this Lord Denbeigh only laughed; but as they went out into the str

Now and again the moon would strike through, in a long, bright ray, that seemed like a keen blade or lance severing the misty air.

no more felt the thrust of a rapier than Marian's housewife the prick of a needle). But there was no method in aught, neither could anything be seen; for the moon had withdrawn behind the clouds, and we seemed to be fighting underneath clear water, so pale and ghastly was the light shed about us from the pale clouds. And as I struck out with my sword I saw a fellow in a mask close with Lord Denbeigh,

rned up to the white sky, looking like the face of a dead man at the bottom of a clear pool. Then could I not with

to a place of safety." And he lifted the boy i

nbeigh's arm, saying, "What mean you? are you di

on. I must take this boy wh

man. "I tell y

rned on him, and spo

Go thy ways ere it be too late;" and he passed on and left

d-by we came to a great gray house, and Lord Den

to a room. A fire was burning on the hearth, and there was a fantas

e. Then he opened the red linen, and did put in his hand gently to feel if the heart were yet beating; but no sooner had he done this than he gave a strange cry, and drew out his hand dripping with blood, and stood staring and trembling. At the same moment the lad stir

I knew that the face upon which

I heard the earl's voice witho

f thy garments; and have care that thou say no word to any

, methought in truth it would not be we

a skin like a white jasmine. When she saw the blood her lips whitened, and she did close them more clo

n, and drew down the sheets, placing her between them. But the blood st

d out, "God in heaven! she will bleed to death!" and he called the woman, and showed her how to stanch the wound. Then, when the steps of the surgeon were heard in

n an evil dream, and that Marian, f

mhurste, and my lady in her own bower, under Marian's care. As to that, Marian had been with

stress Pepper's, and after that she came nei

he black-eyed woman (who never uttered word more, good or bad, after that she had

th the breath of the white lilacs. My lady looked like a snow-wreath fallen suddenly among the greenery of spring, but her eyes did peep softly, like bluebells, from the snows of her face. Methought she was all w

eyelids dropped over her eyes, like snow-flakes fallen on violets. Anon she opened the letter, and having read it, said unto Marian, "Nurse, go bid him hither." So Marian beckoned me, and we left her. As we

y sat (the window out of which she had leaned to speak to me about repairing to the Red Deer). But let me not defer longer. I, Anthony Butter, of respectable parents, and counted among my fellows and betters an honest man, did go to this window, and did

within ten yards of her. When at last he was come to her side, he did stand and look down on her,

s 'twere, and did let it rest upon the man's bowed head, as a white rose-leaf falls and rests on the earth. And she said but two words, "My friend;" yet methought all love was in them. Whereat he raised his head and looked at her, and it is so that men look upward when they pray. He took her hands with

but all hath not been told thee. Grant me but patie

th unto him

thee, for that I must. Thou hast heard how that my wife-" But he could not continu

ed I to sadder story. So piteous it was that my tears fell down like rain, and I was sore afraid that my sighing would discover my whereabouts. But t

in. And I do maintain that 'twas a noble act, and I did quite forgive him the blood of his betrayer. Methought my lady did forgive him too, for she did but s

aid again

out bravely: "My wife yet lives.

p than smile in such wise. And she saith, "I have known that these many days;" and she leaned towar

ne whose heart is broken, saying now an

ge, if in none other, ne'er will that scene fade from my memory-my lady, so wan and white and narrow, like a tall lily over which a rude wind hath swept, and at her knee the strong man, bowed as a little lad that saith

in for me to tell thee why I go. It is for that I think the lad, thy brother,

leaped from her breast into his body; but she spake

unto her, as though

oment that I saw thee. L

ooked at her. Then fled I, as though I had drawn away the veil from the sanct

ome report would reach the village of the wild earl's deeds in Spain, and of how he would fight ten men with one arm wounded and the blood in his eyes, and such like tales. But no word came direct, either through letters or friends. So passed the months, and it was nigh to August, and the fighting was over for the time, when one day, with a clattering as of a horsed army, there comes dashing into

right eyebrow. And his splendid flanks and chest were hollow, like those of a good steed that lacketh fodder. But when he stood and leaned against his horse's neck and smiled at us, methought he was

suddenly from the top o' a tall tree, and so into Lord Robert's arms; and he catches her to his heart, and so stands holding her; and they make no motion n

him his bitter experiences with a Spanish wife. Ay, that is my firm opinion. All this and more did we hear, laughing and weeping by turns. But it was not until Lord Robert saw my lady alone that she heard of how the earl had saved him at the risk of his own life, all but bearing him i

come out upon the terrace and throw himself down along the grass, beneath a tulip-tree, with a book. But he read not, lying very quiet, with his head raised up upon one hand and his elbow sunk in the soft turf.

brushed his cheek. But seeing her, he leaped to his feet, and the blood ran along his face, and t

t. And presently she puts out her hand (no one ere reached out their hand as did my lady), and she just lays it on his sleeve, an

oss his brow; and he said, "

and her head drooped downward, like a flower full of rain. And she did knit and unknit her white fing

upward, and the scarlet leaped to her very brow; but she lifted her little head proudly,

d parting his lips as though to speak

I did drop my cross-bow and took to m

to recognize that this was my second eavesdropp

t Lord Robert had escaped alive and unwed out o' th' clutches o' th' Spanish wench. And here it occurreth to me that I have not yet told that Marian did know from the first of my lady's going up to town dressed as her brother. This I record more on accoun

er wedding, and certes no woman could have had a nobler spouse. He was yet pale from his wounds, but most soldierly

is girdle and the scabbard of his sword were of cloth of silver, with golden buckles. His poniard and sword were

nd becomingly. Lord Robert, methinks, was eke as goodly, after his way, as either his sister or Lord Denbeigh, being close clad from head to foot in crimson sarcenet, slashed all with cloth of gold. My lady had given