At last, and it was more than half-an-hour of their walking thus,
it grew lighter, and he could see the shape of her alongside of him;
and still she held his hand and glided on swifter and swifter, as he thought;
and soon he knew that outside the wood dawn was giving place to day,
and even there, in the wood, it was scarce darker than twilight.
Yet a little further, and it grew lighter still, and he heard
the throstles singing a little way off, and knew that they
were on the edge of the pine-wood, and still her swift feet sped
on till they came to a little grassy wood-lawn, with nought anear
it on the side away from the wood save maples and thorn-bushes:
it was broad daylight there, though the sun had not yet arisen.
There she let fall his hand and turned about to him and faced him
flushed and eager, with her eyes exceeding bright and her lips
half open and quivering. He stood beholding her, trembling,
what for eagerness, what for fear of her words when he had told
her of his desire. For he had now made up his mind to do no less.
He put his helm from off his head and laid it down on the grass,
and he noted therewith that she had come in her green gown only,
and had left mantle and cote hardie behind.
Now he stood up again and was just going to speak, when lo!
she put both her palms to her face, and her bosom heaved,
and her shoulders were shaken with sobs, and she burst
out a weeping, so that the tears ran through her fingers.
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