The Forest Lovers

A great branch ran up to the wall at a right angle; it seemed made for

her intent. Sitting with your legs out of the window it was easy to

take hold of a branch. She tried; it was easy, but not in a cloak. So

she sat again on the sill, took off her cloak, and tried once more.

Soon she was out of the window, swinging by the branch. Then her feet

touched another, and very slowly (for she was panic-stricken at the

least noise) she worked her way downwards to the trunk of the great

tree. Once there it was easy; she was soon on the ground. But she had

no notion what to do next, save that she must do it at once--whither

to turn, how to get out of the wood the best and safest way. Then

another thing struck her. She would be chased, that was of course. She

had been chased before, and tracked, and caught. Little as she could

dare that, what chance had she, a young girl flying loose in this part

of the forest, a young girl decently dressed, looking as she knew now

that she looked; what chance had she indeed? Well, what was she to do?

She remembered Vincent.

Vincent and Nanno did not sleep in the tower: that would have been

inconvenient in Maulfry's view. They had a little outhouse not ten

paces from it, and slept there. Thither went Isoult, jumping at every

snapt twig; the door yielded easily, but which bed should she try?

Nanno, she knew, snored, for Vincent had once made her laugh by

recounting his troubles under the spell of it. Well, the left-hand bed

was undoubtedly Nanno's at that rate; Isoult went to the right-hand

bed and felt delicately with her hand at its head. Vincent's curls!

Then she knelt down and put her face close to the boy's, whispering in

his ear.

"Whisper, Vincent, whisper," she said; "whisper back to me. Do you

love me, Vincent? Whisper."

"You know that I love you, Isoult," Vincent whispered. "Hush! not too

loud," said she again. "Vincent, will you get up and come into the

wood with me? I want to tell you something. Will you come very quietly

indeed?"

"Yes," said Vincent. The whole breathless intercourse worked into his

dreams of her; but he woke and sat up.

"Come," said Isoult. She crept out again to wait for him.

Vincent came out in his night-gown. The moon showed him rather scared,

but there was no doubt about his sentiments. Love-blind Isoult herself

could have no doubt. She lost no time.

"Vincent, I must tell you everything. I shall be in your hands, at

your mercy. I must go away at once, Vincent. If I stay another hour I

shall never see the daylight again. They will kill me, Vincent, or do

that which no one can speak of. Then I shall kill myself. This is

quite true. I have seen something to-night. There is no doubt at all.

Will you help me, Vincent?"