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"Poor Fidelis!" she sighed, "but indeed it wrung my heart to see thy woeful face when I did tell thee Fidelis was lost to thee--Nay, Beltane, stay--O prithee let me speak--"

Quoth Beltane 'twixt his kisses: "Wherefore wert so cold and strange to me but yesterday?"

"Dear my heart," she murmured, "I needs must make thee suffer a little-- just a very little, for that I had known so lad to see thee bear the wallet of poor Fidelis--and O, 'twas foolish in thee to grieve for hione, thy Helen doth reht again in steel--that did so chafe me, Beltane--indeed, my tender skin did suffer much on thy account--"

"Then soon with my kisses will I seek--" But a cool, soft hand schooled his hot lips to silence and the while he kissed those sweet arresting fingers, she spake 'twixt s lips: "Prithee where is my shoe that was Genevra's? Indeed, 'twas hard matter to slip it off for thee, Beltane, for Genevra's foot is so smaller than mine--a very little! Nay, crush me not, --the ht!" answered Beltane, "the world to-night doth hold but thee and me--"

"Aye, my Beltane, as when sick of thy wound within the little cave I nursed thee, all unknown O love, in all thy sickness I ith thee, to care for thee Teaching good Roger to tend thee and--to drug thee to gentle sleep that Ilips--"

"Ah!" he sighed, "and ht 'twas but a drea impossible, Beltane"

"And thou art truly mine?"

"Beltane--thou dost know this! Ah, love--ould you?" For of a sudden his , he lifted her upon his breast "What would'st do with ht, this very hour thou shalt wed me--"

"Nay, dear ht--my dearest dream since first I saw thee within the woods at Mortain--so now shalt wed me--"

"But, Beltane--"

"Shalt wed me!"

"Nay, love, I--I--thou art so sudden!"

"Aye, within this hour shalt call me 'husband'!"

"Wilt force me, my lord?"

"Aye, verily," said Beltane, "as God sees ainsay thee!" and she hid her face against him once more But, as he turned to leave the arbour, she stayed him: "I prithee, nohither dost take me, Beltane?"