"
Ralph looked on her and strove to answer her, but no words would come
to his lips, because of the greatness of his longing; she looked
on him fondly, and then stooped to look at the ripples that bubbled
up about her shoes, and touched them at whiles; then she said:
"See how they long for the water, these feet that have worn the waste
so long, and know how kind it will run over them and lap about them:
but ye must abide a little, waste-wearers, till we have done a thing
or two. Come, love!" And she reached her hand out behind her to Ralph,
not looking back, but when she felt his hand touch it, she stepped
lightly over the other stones, and on to the grass with him, and led
him quietly up the slope that went up to the table of greensward
before the cave. But when they came on to the level grass she
kissed him, and then turned toward the valley and spake solemnly:
"May all blessings light on this House of the wilderness and this
Hall of the Summer-tide, and the Chamber of Love that here is!"
Then was she silent a while, and Ralph brake not the silence.
Then she turned to him with a face grown merry and smiling, and said:
"Lo! how the poor lad yearneth for meat, as well he may, so long
as the day hath been. Ah, beloved, thou must be patient a little.
For belike our servants have not yet heard of the wedding of us.
So we twain must feed each the other. Is that so much amiss?"
He laughed in her face for love, and took her by the wrist,
but she drew her hand away and went into the cave, and came forth
anon holding a copper kettle with an iron bow, and a bag of meal,
which she laid at his feet; then she went into the cave again,
and brought forth a flask of wine and a beaker; then she caught up
the little cauldron, which was well-beaten, and thin and light,
and ran down to the stream therewith, and came up thence presently,
bearing it full of water on her head, going as straight and
stately as the spear is seen on a day of tourney, moving over
the barriers that hide the knight, before he lays it in the rest.
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