Page:Wood Beyond the World.djvu/157

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

him, there had been nought for thee to fear in him, save his treason: but now shall he neither love nor hate any more; he died last midnight.

Yea, and how? said Walter.

Nay, she said, let me tell my tale all together once for all, lest thou blame me overmuch. But first we will wash us and comfort us as best we may, and then amidst our resting shall the word be said.

By then were they come down to the stream-side, which ran fair in pools and stickles amidst rocks and sandy banks. She said: There behind the great grey rock is my bath, friend; and here is thine; and lo! the uprising of the sun!

So she went her ways to the said rock, and he bathed him, and washed the night off him, and by then he was clad again she came back fresh and sweet from the water, and with her lap full of cherries from a wilding which overhung her bath. So they sat down together on the green grass above the sand, and ate the breakfast of the wilderness: and Walter was full of content as he watched her, and beheld her sweetness and her loveliness; yet were they, either of them, somewhat shy and shamefaced each