She let him talk on, and whiles she listened to him, and whiles, not, but all
the time she gazed on him, yet sometimes askance, as if she were ashamed.
As for him, he saw her face how fair and lovely she was, yet was there
little longing in his heart for her, more than for one of the painted
women on the wall, for as kind and as dear as he deemed her.
When he had done, she kept silence a while, but at last she enforced her,
and spake: "Sad it is for the mother that bore thee that thou art not
in her house, wherein all things would be kind and familiar to thee.
Maybe thou art seeking for what is not. Or maybe thou shalt seek
and shalt find, and there may be naught in what thou findest, whereof to
give thee such gifts as are meet for thy faithfulness and valiancy.
But in thine home shouldst thou have all gifts which thou mayest desire."
Then was she silent awhile, and then spake: "Yet must I needs
say that I would that thine home were in Goldburg."
He smiled sadly and looked on her, but with no astonishment,
and indeed he still scarce thought of her as he said:
"Lady and Queen, thou art good to me beyond measure.
Yet, look you! One home I had, and left it; another I
looked to have, and I lost it; and now I have no home.
Maybe in days to come I shall go back to mine old home;
and whiles I wonder with what eyes it will look on me.
For merry is that land, and dear; and I have become sorrowful.
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