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matters。 I must now tell thee of my thoughts in order。〃
Her colour went and came now； and she plaited the folds of her gown
with restless fingers。 At last she said： 〃Now the first thing is
this； that though thou hast seen me first only within this hour；
thou hast set thine heart upon me to have me for thy speech…friend
and thy darling。 And if this be not so； then is all my speech； yea
and all my hope； come to an end at once。〃
〃O yea！〃 said Walter； 〃even so it is： but how thou hast found this
out I wot not； since now for the first time I say it； that thou art
indeed my love； and my dear and my darling。〃
〃Hush；〃 she said； 〃hush！ lest the wood have ears； and thy speech is
loud： abide； and I shall tell thee how I know it。 Whether this thy
love shall outlast the first time that thou holdest my body in thine
arms； I wot not； nor dost thou。 But sore is my hope that it may be
so； for I also； though it be but scarce an hour since I set eyes on
thee； have cast mine eyes on thee to have thee for my love and my
darling； and my speech…friend。 And this is how I wot that thou
lovest me； my friend。 Now is all this dear and joyful； and
overflows my heart with sweetness。 But now must I tell thee of the
fear and the evil which lieth behind it。〃
Then Walter stretched out his hands to her； and cried out： 〃Yea；
yea！ But whatever evil entangle us； now we both know these two
things； to wit； that thou lovest me； and I thee； wilt thou not come
hither； that I may cast mine arms about thee； and kiss thee； if not
thy kind lips or thy friendly face at all； yet at least thy dear
hand： yea； that I may touch thy body in some wise？〃
She looked on him steadily； and said softly： 〃Nay； this above all
things must not be； and that it may not be is a part of the evil
which entangles us。 But hearken； friend； once again I tell thee
that thy voice is over loud in this wilderness fruitful of evil。
Now I have told thee； indeed； of two things whereof we both wot； but
next I must needs tell thee of things whereof I wot； and thou
wottest not。 Yet this were better； that thou pledge thy word not to
touch so much as one of my hands； and that we go together a little
way hence away from these tumbled stones； and sit down upon the open
greensward； whereas here is cover if there be spying abroad。〃
Again； as she spoke； she turned very pale； but Walter said： 〃Since
it must be so； I pledge thee my word to thee as I love thee。〃
And therewith she knelt down； and did on her foot…gear； and then
sprang lightly over the rivulet； and then the twain of them went
side by side some half a furlong thence； and sat down； shadowed by
the boughs of a slim quicken…tree growing up out of the greensward；
whereon for a good space around was neither bush nor brake。
There began the maiden to talk soberly； and said： 〃This is what I
must needs say to thee now； that thou art come into a land perilous
for any one that loveth aught of good； from which； forsooth； I were
fain that thou wert gotten away safely； even though I should die of
longing for thee。 As for myself； my peril is； in a measure； less
than thine； I mean the peril of death。 But lo； thou； this iron on
my foot is token that I am a thrall； and thou knowest in what wise
thralls must pay for transgressions。 Furthermore； of what I am； and
how I came hither； time would fail me to tell； but somewhile； maybe；
I shall tell thee。 I serve an evil mistress； of whom I may say that
scarce I wot if she be a woman or not； but by some creatures is she
accounted for a god； and as a god is heried； and surely never god
was crueller nor colder than she。 Me she hateth sorely； yet if she
hated me little or nought； small were the gain to me if it were her
pleasure to deal hardly by me。 But as things now are； and are like
to be； it would not be for her pleasure； but for her pain and loss；
to make an end of me； therefore； as I said e'en now； my mere life is
not in peril with her； unless； perchance； some sudden passion get
the better of her； and she slay me； and repent of it thereafter。
For so it is； that if it be the least evil of her conditions that
she is wanton； at least wanton she is to the letter。 Many a time
hath she cast the net for the catching of some goodly young man； and
her latest prey （save it be thou） is the young man whom I named；
when first I saw thee； by the name of the King's Son。 He is with us
yet； and I fear him； for of late hath he wearied of her； though it
is but plain truth to say of her； that she is the wonder of all
Beauties of the World。 He hath wearied of her； I say； and hath cast
his eyes upon me； and if I were heedless； he would betray me to the
uttermost of the wrath of my mistress。 For needs must I say of him；
though he be a goodly man； and now fallen into thralldom； that he
hath no bowels of compassion； but is a dastard； who for an hour's
pleasure would undo me； and thereafter would stand by smiling and
taking my mistress's pardon with good cheer； while for me would be
no pardon。 Seest thou； therefore； how it is with me between these
two cruel fools？ And moreover there are others of whom I will not
even speak to thee。〃
And therewith she put her hands before her face； and wept； and
murmured： 〃Who shall deliver me from this death in life？〃
But Walter cried out： 〃For what else am I come hither； I； I？〃
And it was a near thing that he did not take her in his arms； but he
remembered his pledged word； and drew aback from her in terror；
whereas he had an inkling of why she would not suffer it； and he
wept with her。
But suddenly the Maid left weeping； and said in a changed voice：
〃Friend； whereas thou speakest of delivering me； it is more like
that I shall deliver thee。 And now I pray thy pardon for thus
grieving thee with my grief； and that more especially because thou
mayst not solace thy grief with kisses and caresses； but so it was；
that for once I was smitten by the thought of the anguish of this
land； and the joy of all the world besides。〃
Therewith she caught her breath in a half…sob； but refrained her and
went on： 〃Now dear friend and darling； take good heed to all that I
shall say to thee； whereas thou must do after the teaching of my
words。 And first； I deem by the monster having met thee at the
gates of the land； and refreshed thee； that the Mistress hath looked
for thy coming； nay； by thy coming hither at all； that she hath cast
her net and caught thee。 Hast thou noted aught that might seem to
make this more like？〃
Said Walter： 〃Three times in full daylight have I seen go past me
the images of the monster and thee and a glorious lady； even as if
ye were alive。〃
And therewith he told her in few words how it had gone with him
since that day on the quay at Langton。
She said： 〃Then it is no longer perhaps； but certain； that thou art
her latest catch； and even so I deemed from the first： and； dear
friend； this is why I have not suffered thee to kiss or caress me；
so sore as I longed for thee。 For the Mistress will have thee for
her only； and hath lured thee hither for nought else； and she is
wise in wizardry （even as some deal am I）； and wert thou to touch me
with