Page:Wood Beyond the World.djvu/106

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have any hope to come round on him; and so were the hunters left undone for that time.

So the Lady cast herself down on the green grass anigh the water, while Walter blew the hounds in and coupled them up; then he turned round to her, and lo! she was weeping for despite that they had lost the quarry; and again did Walter wonder that so little a matter should raise a passion of tears in her. He durst not ask what ailed her, or proffer her solace, but was not ill apaid by beholding her loveliness as she lay.

Presently she raised up her head and turned to Walter, and spake to him angrily and said: Squire, why dost thou stand staring at me like a fool?

Yea, Lady, he said; but the sight of thee maketh me foolish to do aught else but to look on thee.

She said, in a peevish voice: Tush, Squire, the day is too far spent for soft and courtly speeches; what was good there is nought so good here. Withal, I know more of thine heart than thou deemest.

Walter hung down his head and reddened, and she looked on him, and her face changed, and she smiled and said, kindly this time: Look ye, Squire, I am hot and weary, and ill-