The Forest Lovers

Presently Isoult fetched a long sigh, and moved a hand ever so

slightly. Prosper took it, leaning over her.

"Isoult," he said, "child, do you not know me?"

He affected more roughness than he felt, as a man's way is. He will

always dictate rather than ask. At his words a shiny veil seemed to

withdraw from her eyes, whereby he learned that she had heard him. He

put the cup to her lips again. Some was spilt, but some was swallowed.

She motioned an answer to his question. "Yes, lord," he made of it.

"Isoult, I ought to be angry with you," said he; and she looked

untroubled at him, too far gone to heed the blame of lords or men.

"No, no," her lips framed as she closed her eyes.

She fell asleep holding his hand, and he watched by the bed till

midnight, warning off with a lifted finger any who came from the

Countess for news of him. Hard thinking sped the vigil: he wondered

what could have happened to bring her so near her death or ever he

could have word of her. Galors, he was pretty sure, had got to work

again; it was good odds that he had been running in couple with the

lady of the dead knight. Their connection was proved to his mind. Then

Isoult, having escaped by some chance, had naturally headed straight

for him--very naturally, very properly. It was his due: he would fight

for her; she was his wife. Ah, Heaven, but she was more than that!

There were ties, there were ties now. What more precisely she was he

could not say; but more, oh, certainly more. Weak things moved him

always: here was a weak enough thing, white and shadowy in a bed! He

felt the stirring of her hand in his, like a little mouse. Poor

frightened creature, flying from all the forest eyes to drop at his

feet at last! By God, he would split Galors this time. And as for the

woman--pooh, give her a branding and let her go.

At midnight Isoult woke up with a little cry. Her first words were as

before--"Danger! danger!"

"You are safe with me, dear," said Prosper.

"Danger to you, my lord!"

"To me, my child? Who can be dangerous to me?"

"Maulfry and Galors. Maulfry most of all."

"Maulfry? Maulfry?" he echoed. Ah, the lady!

She told him everything that had passed from the hour she left

Gracedieu, and even Prosper could not but see that she had had one

thought throughout and one stay. Maulfry's smiling treachery had

shocked her to the soul; but the very shock had only quickened her

alarms about his safety. He could not avoid the reflection that this

startled creature loved him. Prosper would have been more grateful

than he was, and more shrewdly touched, had he not also felt

astonishment (tinged, I think, with scorn) that any one should be

anxious about his conduct of the war. Women's ways! As if a man-at-

arms did not live in danger; and for danger, pardieu. He did not show

any of this, nor did he leave the girl's hand. Besides, the affair was

very interesting. So he heard her to the end, adding nothing by way of

comment beyond an occasional "Good child," or "Brave girl," or the

wine cup to her dry lips. Seeing too how deeply her alarms had sunk

into her, he had tact enough not to let her guess his intent, which

very nakedly was to follow up Galors towards Goltres or Wanmeeting.

Upon this matter he contented himself with asking her one question--

whether she had ever heard speak of a knight called Salomon de Born?

The answer made him start. Isoult shook her head.