She had learnt all the particulars of his escape--a deed of daring to be proud of. And proud was she of it. "Do you know, Eustace," she continued, without waiting his rejoinder, "that you spared me a journey, and perhaps some humiliation?" "A journey! Whither?" "To Goodrich Castle first; and it might have been anywhere after." "But why?" "To throw myself at Sir Henry Lingen's feet, and crave mercy for you." "That would have been humiliation indeed, darling. And I'm glad that chance hindered you from it." "Chance! No love: your courage did it, and--" "My horses's heels, rather say. But for them I should not be here." He was upon that horse's back then; she on a palfrey by his side. "Noble Saladin!" she exclaimed, drawing closer, and passing her gloved hand caressingly over his arched neck. "Dear, good Saladin! If you but knew how grateful I am!" Saladin did seem to know, as in soft, gentle neighing he turned his head round to acknowledge the caress. A fair picture these betrothed lovers formed as they sate in their saddles under the greenwood tree. Some change was there in them since they had been there before. He handsome as ever, perhaps handsomer. His cheeks embrowned with two years' campaigning, his figure braced to a terser, firmer manhood; on Saladin's back he seemed the personification of a young crusader just returned from the Holy Wars. She lovelier than of erst, if that were possible. A woman now, her girlhood's beauty had done all Major Grenville said of it, and more. Sager had she grown, made so by the vicissitudes and trials of the time; and it became her. Not now clapped she her hands, and echoed the falconer's "whoop!" when the hawks struck their quarry down. Instead, took it all quietly; so different from former days! But there was another cause now sobering, almost saddening, her, one which affected both. The war was not yet at an end. At any hour, any moment, might come a summons which would again separate them, perchance never more to meet! In that tranquil sylvan scene they felt as on the deck of a storm-tossed, wreck-threatened ship, in the midst of angry ocean! Cruel war, to beget such reflections--such fears! And, alas! they were realised almost on the instant. Following the old course, the hawking party had ascended to the summit of the hill to give the merlin its turn. The game of its pursuit, more plentiful, was easily found and flushed, so that soon the courageous creature made a kill--a landrail the quarry. But ere it could be cast-off for a second flight, just as once before, the sport was interrupted by, their seeing a horseman on the opposite hill coming down the road from the Wilderness to Drybrook. He might not have been noticed but for the pace, which was a rapid gallop. This down the steep declivity told of some pressing purpose, while the sun's glitter upon arms and accoutrements proclaimed him a soldier.