With that she sent the fellow back to his watching, and threaded the
orchard to the manor garden. Pelleas and Igraine had long ended their
prayers in the chapel. Morgan found them in the atrium, watching the
fish in the water and their own reflections in the pool. The girl
had quite smothered the bleak look that had held her features in the
orchard. She was the same ingenuous, self-pleased little woman whose
blue eyes seemed as clear and honest as a sleeping sea in summer.
Before, she had flown in Pelleas's face for vanity's sake; now she
seemed no less his woman--ready with smiles and childish flattery, and
all the pleasantness she could gather. She was at his side again--quick
with her eyes and tongue. Probably she guessed that the man despised
her, but then that was of no moment now, seeing that it made the secret
in her heart more bitter.
At noon they dined in the triclinium, with man Galerius to serve. He
had ransacked kitchen and pantry, and from the ample store discovered,
had spread a sufficient meal. His eyes were ever on Pelleas as he
waited. There was no doubt about cross or poniard sheath; and Galerius
found pleasure in scanning the knight's armour and looking for the
place where he might strike.
The afternoon proved sultry, and Pelleas took his turn in keeping watch
by the bank. Cool and placid lay the water in the sun, while vapoury
heat hung over the meadows and the distant woods. There was still
fear lest the heathen might return, thinking to catch the islanders
napping. The very abruptness of their retreat had been in itself
suspicious; and Pelleas was all for caution. Igraine's face seemed to
make him more careful of peril. He thought much of her as he paced the
green bank for three hours or more, before leaving the duty to Galerius
and his fellow.
Returning to the manor he found Igraine cushioned on the tiled floor
beside the impluvium, fingering the lute that Morgan la Blanche had
found. The latter lady was still in the tablinum, so Igraine said,
pilfering and admiring at her leisure, with fruit and a cup of spiced
wine ready at her hand. Pelleas took post on the opposite side of the
pool to Igraine, unarmed himself at his leisure, and began to clean his
harness. No task could have pleased Igraine better. She put the lute
away, took his helmet on her lap, and burnished it with the corner of
her gown. Pelleas had sword, breast-plate, greaves and shoulder pieces
beside him. Their eyes often met over the pool as they sat with the
scent of lilies in the air, and talked little--but thought the more.
Igraine felt queerly happy. There seemed a warm fire in her bosom, a
stealthy, happy heat that crept through every atom of her frame like
the sap into the fibres of some rich rose. Her heart seemed to unfold
itself like a flower in the sun. She looked often at Pelleas, and her
eyes were very soft and bright.
"A fair place, this," she said presently, as the man furbished his
sword.
"Fair indeed," said he; "a rich manor."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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