' Therewith she took from her pouch a strong sharp knife,
and drew it from the sheath, and flashed it in the afternoon sun,
and gave it to me; and I took it and laid it in my bosom and thanked her;
for I thought that I understood her meaning, and how it would avail me.
Then I went driving my goats home speedily, so that the sun was barely
set when I came to the garth; and a great horror rather than a fear of my
mistress was on me; and lo! she stood in the door of the house gazing down
the garth and the woodland beyond, as though she were looking for my coming:
and when her eyes lighted on me, she scowled, and drew her lips back from
her teeth and clenched her hands with fury, though there was nought in them;
and she was a tall and strong woman, though now growing somewhat old:
but as for me, I had unsheathed the carline's gift before I came to the garth,
and now I held it behind my back in my left hand.
"I had stayed my feet some six paces from the threshold, and my
heart beat quick, but the sick fear and cowering had left me,
though the horror of her grew in my heart. My goats had all gone off
quietly to their house, and there was nothing betwixt me and her.
In clearing from my sleeve the arm of me which held the knife,
the rough clasp which fastened my raiment together at the shoulder
had given way, and the cloth had fallen and left my bosom bare,
so that I knew that the collar was clearly to be seen.
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