The Forest Lovers

"Poor child!" said the lady when she had heard the sobbed confession,

"you are indeed in love. And Prosper le Gai is your lover? And you are

Isoult la Desirous? So these notches declare at least: they are yours,

I suppose?"

"Yes, indeed, ma'am," said Isoult; "but he is not my lover. He is my

master."

"Oh, of course, of course, child," the lady laughed--"they are always

the master. If we are the mistress we are lucky. And do you love him

so much, Isoult?"

"Yes, ma'am," said she.

"Silly girl, silly girl! How much do you love him now?"

"I could not tell you, ma'am."

"Could you tell him then?"

"Ah, no, no!"

"But you have told him, silly?"

"No, ma'am, indeed."

"It needs few words, you must know."

"They are more than I can dare, ma'am."

"It can be done without words at all. Come here, Isoult. Listen."

She whispered in her ear.

Isoult grew very grave. Her eyes were wide at this minute, all black,

and not a shred of colour was left in her face.

"Ah, never!" she cried.

Maulfry laughed heartily.

"You are the dearest little goose in the world!" she cried. "Come and

kiss me at once."

Isoult did as she was told. Maulfry did not let her go again.

"Now," she went on, with her arms round the girl's waist and her arch

face very near, "now you are to know, Isoult, that I am a wonderful

lady. I am friends with half the knights in the kingdom; I have armour

of my own, shields and banneroles, and halberts and swords, enough to

frighten the Countess Isabel out of her three shires. I could scare

the Abbot Richard and the Abbess Mechtild by the lift of a little

finger. Oh, I know what I am saying! It so happens that your Prosper

is a great friend of mine. I am very fond of him, and of course I must

needs be interested in what you tell me. Well now--come with me and

find him. Will you? I dare say he is not very far off."

Isoult stared at her without speaking. Doubt, wonder, longing, prayer,

quavered in her eyes as each held the throne for a time.

"He told me to stay at Gracedieu," she faltered. It seemed to her that

she was maiming her own dream.

"He tells me differently then," said Maulfry, smiling easily; "I

suppose even a lover may change his mind."

"Oh! Oh! you have seen him?

"Certainly I have seen him."

"And he says--"

"What do you think he says? Might it not be, Come and find me?"

"He is--ah, he is ill?"

"He is well."

"In danger?"

"I know of none."