The Forest Lovers

The old man set bread and onions on the table, with some sour red wine

in a jug. "Sit and eat, my lord, while you may," he said.

So Prosper and Isoult sat upon the bench and made the most of it, and

he, being a cheerful soul, talked and joked with Brother Bonaccord.

Isoult never raised her eyes once, nor spoke a word; as for the numbed

old soul by the fire; she kept her back resolutely on the room,

muttered her charms and despair, and warmed her dry hands as before.

When they had eaten what they could there came a change. The friar

ceased talking; the old man faced Prosper with a queer look. "Sir,

have you well-eaten and drunken?" he asked.

Prosper thanked him; he had done excellently.

"Well, now," said the man, "as I have heard, after the bride-feast

comes the bridal. Will your worship rest with the bride brought home?"

Prosper got up in an awkward pause. He looked at the man as if he were

possessed of the devil. Then he laughed, saying, "Are you merry, old

rogue?"

"Nay, sir," said the ancient, "it is no jest. If she mate not this

night--and it's marriage for choice with this holy man--come sunrise

she'll be hanged on the Abbot's new gallows. For, she is suspected of

witchcraft and many abominations."

"Is she your daughter, you dog, and do you speak thus of your

daughter?" cried Prosper in a fury.

"Sir," said the man, "who would own himself father to a witch?

Nevertheless she is my daughter indeed."

"What is the meaning of all this? Would you have me marry a witch, old

fool?" Prosper shouted at him. The man shrugged.

"Nay, sir, but I said it was marriage for choice--seeing the friar was

to hand. We know their way, to marry as soon as look at you. But it's

as you will, so you get a title to her, to take her out of the

country."

Prosper turned to look at Isoult. He saw her standing before the

board, her head hung and her two hands clasped together. Her breathing

was troubled--that also he saw. "God's grace!" thought he to himself,

"is she so fair without and within so rotten? Who has been ill-

ordering the world to this pass?" He watched her thoughtfully for some

time; then he turned to her father.

"See now, old scamp," he said, "I have sworn an oath to high God to

succour the weak, to right wrong, and to serve ladies. Nine times

under the moon I sware it, watching my arms before the cross on

Starning Waste. Judge you, therefore, whether I intend to keep it or

not. As for your daughter, she can tell you whether some part of it I

have not kept even now. But understand me, that I do not marry on

compulsion or where love is not. For that were a sin done toward God,

and me, and a maid."