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"It seems to me, I confess, inconvenient in a falconer that he should

be nice as to the colour of his quarry Therea bad day's sport worse if you

will tell me your story"

Prosper was troubled He connected his story with Isoult, though he

could hardly say why He had e; yet without that sequel the story could have no point He

did not wish to speak of his e, if for no other reason than

that it was much too late to speak of it The other reasons remained

as valid as ever; but he was bound to confess the superior cogency of

this present one Meanwhile the Countess clamoured

"The story, Prosper, the story!" she cried "I must and will have the

story I a red Oh, it is

certainly romantic; I shall never rest without the story"

Prosper in desperation re mishap of his boyhood, and

clutched at it

"This is my story," he said "When I was a boy withon Marbery Down There is a

famous heronry in the valley belohence you reat flocks of sheep tended by

shepherds who come from all parts of the country round about and lie

out by their fires One day--just such a windyas this--my

father, my brother Osric, and I were out with our birds, and did

indifferently well, so far as I can reard of the rock which I had mewed and manned myself It was

the first ti

trouble; then did better, but finally gave more trouble than at first,

as you shall hear Towards noon I found e of the Dohere it slopes steeply to the