Page 75 (1/2)

"It is fortunate you have other hues to choose from," said the

Countess with a smile, "or otherwise you would be no falconer But

your story is very strange Have you ever consulted about it?"

"I have said very little about it," Prosper replied, re as he

spoke the forest Mass which he had heard, and that he had discoursed

upon this adventure with Alice of the Herirl's heart," said the lady

"It did not get so far as that, Countess"

"You speak prose, my friend"

"I am no troubadour, but speak what I know"

"The heartto you, Prosper!"

"The heart? Dear lady, I assure you the girl was not hurt She is a

young woman by now, probably wife to a clown and mother of half-a-

dozen"

"Prosper, you disappoint rey fields"

The Countess was vexed, for the life of him he could not tell why He

made peace at last, but she would not tell hi's irritation

That was not the only reminder he had that day--in fact, it was but

the first In the evening came another

He was in the Countess's cha a

banner, and he had been singing to her as she worked After histhat she would sing And

so she did, but in a voice so low and constrained that it seemed more

to comfort herself than any other