“But I don’t know its name yet. Tell me, you must have given your new star a name by now—for I think it grows brighter night by night.” In silence he let his deep gaze rest for a moment upon her, then answered: “To me it is still nameless, though meaning things beyond words.” He paused, and went on, still compassing her with his absorbed look. “You and the star came to me together—shall I not call it also,” with a gesture at the flowering bed, “Euphrosine—Star-of-Comfort?” These words, accompanied by the glance that seemed to give them so earnest a significance, troubled Ellinor strangely. She could find no response. She drew the key from the lock and was moving forward with downcast eyes when he laid his touch lightly upon her arm. “Thank you,” said he, “for admitting me into your enchanted garden! Some morning when the dawn birds are calling, or some evening before the stars come out, may I knock at this gate again?” “Nay, David,” cried she, with swift uplifted eyes, holding out to him the key on the impulse of her leaping heart, “this gate must never be locked for you! My father has another—take this one!” His fingers closed upon her hand and then he took the brown key and looked at it. “For you and me alone,” he said. She knew then that this hour they had spent together in the dew-besprinkled closes was to him as sacred and as sweet as it would ever be to her. But now he had folded his lips together and went beside her in silence. CHAPTER III A QUEEN OF CURDS AND CREAM And Enid brought sweet cakes to make them cheer, · · · · · And stood behind and waited ... And seeing her so sweet and serviceable, Geraint had longing in him evermore To stoop and kiss the tender little thumb That crost the trencher as she laid it down. —TENNYSON (_Idylls_). At the end of the lane, Ellinor took the path which branched off to the courtyards; and, as she made no movement of farewell or dismissal, the master of the place, with great simplicity, followed her. These courtyards were located in the most ancient part of Bindon, where in mediæval days had been the inner bailey. What remained of the lowered towers and curtains had been utilised for the peaceful purposes of spences, bakehouses and dairies.