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"Take ely

Isoult led the way; he followed her close

She went into the dark roohted the candles: he could see how deliberately she

did it, without waver or tre at such a

rate, it was astounding to him to watch Then she beat out the torch

on the hearth, and waited Three strides brought him into the middle

of the room, but the look of her stopped him there She was rather

pale, very grave, looked taller than her height; her eyes see Neither of theh there was fine disorder in two hearts, and one was

crying inwardly to Love and the Virgin Isoult spoke first in a very

low voice

"Lord, now let o," she said

The next minute he had her in his arms

She had been prepared for this, and now suffered what she must,

lifeless and pleasureless, with a dull pain in her heart This was the

stabbing pain (as with a muffled knife) hich true love maims

itself in its own defence His aiht have embraced a dead woman Soon his passion burned itself

out for lack of fuel; he set her down and looked

"Are you my wife? By the saints, are you not my wife? Why are you

here?"

"To serve my lord"

"Serve! serve! And is this the service you do me? Are you not my