How long we remained oblivious to everything save our new-found love I
know not, for truly I had entered upon a new life. My dear love had
revealed herself to me in a way which made the dark night seem like day.
I had known her as one fair beyond words, it is true, and more faithful
and courageous than I had believed a woman could be, but distant and
often cold and repellant. Even when she had braved many things for my
welfare she treated me with distant formality, such as had chilled my
heart and made me despair of ever winning her love. But this night she
had shown me her heart, and now I knew her not only as noble and pure,
but as tender and winsome and loving. Many and many a time did she raise
her dear face to mine and bid me tell her again and again that my wound
was not dangerous and that I suffered no pain. And because I loved her
so, I am afraid I told her what was not true, for the wound ached
sorely, although I minded it not one whit. In very truth, one look from
her eyes dispelled the thought of pain, and I felt the strength of many
men surge within me. To say that I was content would be to play with
words, for sitting there with my love nought but joy filled my life.
Presently, however, she bade me tell her of my experiences, and this I
did briefly, for I wanted to know what had happened to her, and why Otho
Killigrew had visited her and what he had said to her. Besides, it had
come to me that I must take her away from Restormel, although for the
moment I knew not where. In my happiness, too, I had almost forgotten
the promise I had made to Hugh Boscawen, and that it was my duty to make
my way to Veryan Bay that night.
"What did Otho tell you, my love?" I asked.
"That you have been taken prisoner by his people, and that you were to
be put to death to-night, unless----"
"But that was nothing," I answered. "What was his purpose in coming to
you?"
"He had discovered, I know not how, that you were here last night. He
had also found out the signal by which I was to admit you."
"How?"
"I know not. He had also divined--oh, Roger! I must be very foolish,
but he had divined that--that----"
"What, my dear maid?"
"That I love you," and she hid her face on my shoulder again, as though
she were ashamed to show her face.
"How think you so?"
"He told me so, and--and I could not deny it."
"No," said I with a glad laugh, "and then?"
"He tried to trade upon my love. He said you were in his power, and that
unless I promised him something you should die this very night."
"What was that?"
"To marry him."
"And you?"
"I was sorely frightened; but I told him that I would rather die than do
this. I could not, you know, Roger, even though I did not know you cared
aught for me."
"But you must have known I loved you, my dear."
"Sometimes I thought I did, and at others I could only--that is--even
were I sure you did, I knew you would rather die than that I should wed
him."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account