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It was, however, heedlessness rather than design which brought it

about, that as the days at High March succeeded each other Prosper did

not tell the Countess either of his adventure or of his sun was there: he did not see his way to involving

the Abbot, as, he knew, a dependant of his hostess, and yet could

not begin the story elsewhere than at the beginning Soue--an honourable

soot her The

days were very pleasant He hunted the hare, the deer, the wolf, the

bear He hunted what he liked best of all to hunt, the ot

the honour which only co in that sort-the

devout admiration of those he led So soon as it was found out where

his tastes and capacities lay he had as h March was on the northern borders of the Countess's country; not

far off was the Markstake, stormy, debatable land, plashy with blood

There were raids, there were hornings and burnings, lifting of cattle

and ravishment of women, to be prevented or paid for Prosper saw

service The High March ht and fierce, so ht eat her

heart out with love; Prosper had the love of his riders, for by this

they were his to a man