And he seemed to think it good to look out of the corners of
his eyes at her; though I do not say that she smiled on him."
The Lady sprang up, her cheeks burning, and walked about angrily a while,
striving for words, till at last she said: "When we come home to Utterbol,
my lord will see his new thrall again, and will care for Joyce no whit:
then will I have my will of her; and she shall learn, she, whether I
am verily the least of women at Utterbol! Ha! what sayest thou?
Now why wilt thou stand and smile on me?--Yea, I know what is in thy thought;
and in very sooth it is good that the dear youngling hath not seen
this new thrall, this Ursula. Forsooth, I tell thee that if I durst
have her in my hands I would have a true tale out of her as to why
she weareth ever that pair of beads about her neck."
"Now, our Lady," said Agatha, "thou art marring the fairness
of thy face again. I bid thee be at peace, for all shall be well,
and other than thou deemest. Tell me, then, didst thou
get our Lord to swear immunity for me?" Said the Lady:
"Yea, he swore on the edge of the sword that thou mightest say
what thou wouldst, and neither he nor any other should lay
hand on thee."
"Good," said Agatha; "then will I go to him to-morrow morning,
when Joyce has gone from him. But now hold up thine heart, and keep
close for these two days that we shall yet abide in Tower Dale:
and trust me this very evening I shall begin to set tidings going
that shall work and grow, and shall one day rejoice thine heart.
Pages:
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424