The Forest Lovers

"Yes, lord," said she, "when I saw your face I knew it."

"What of my face, child? Hadst thou seen me before that day?"

She did not answer this.

"It is likely enough," he went on. "For in my father's day we often

rode, I and my brothers, with him in the Abbey fees, hawking or

hunting the deer. And if thou wert gooseherd or shepherdess thou

mightest easily have seen us."

Isoult said, "My lord, if I had seen thee twenty times before or none,

I had trusted thee when I saw thy face."

"How so, child?" asked he.

For answer to this she looked quickly up at him for a moment, and then

hung her head, blushing. He had had time to see that dog's look of

trust again in her eyes.

"My wife takes kindly to me!" he thought. "Let us hope she will find

Gracedieu even more to her mind."

They rode on, being now very near the actual forest. Prosper began

again with his questions.

"What enmity," he said, "the Abbot had for thee, Isoult, or what

lurking pity, or what grain of doubt, I cannot understand. It seems

that he wished thy ruin most devoutly, but that being a Christian and

a man of honour he sought to compass it in a Christian and gentlemanly

way. Might not marriage have appeared to him the appointed means? And

should I not tell him that thou art ruined according to his

aspirations?"

"Lord," said she, "he will know it."

"Saints and angels!" Prosper cried, "who will tell him? Not Brother

Bonaccord, who loves no monks."

"Nay, lord, but my mother will tell him for the ruin of Galors, who

hates her and is hated again. Moreover, there are many in Malbank who

will find it out soon enough."

"How is that, child?"

"Lord, many of them sought to have me."

"I can well believe it," said Prosper; and after a pause he said

again--"I would like to meet this Galors of thine out of his frock. He

looked a long-armed, burly rogue; it seemed that there might be some

fighting in him. Further, some chastisement of him, if it could

conveniently be done, would seem to be my duty, since he has touched

at thy honour, which is now mine. I should certainly like to meet him

unfrocked."

"Lord,"' answered the girl, "that will come soon enough. I pray that

thine arm be strong, for he is very fierce, and a terrible man in

Malbank, more often armed than in his robe."

"He must be an indifferent monk," Prosper said; "God seems not well

served in such a man's life. Holy Church would be holier without him."

"He is a great hunter, my lord," said Isoult.

"It would certainly seem so," said Prosper grimly. "Where should I

find him likeliest?"