The Night Land

And this to be all of it, save that they had planned to punish me, and

had met every evening at the gap, to play at lovers, perchance I should

pass, so that I should have greater cause for my jealousy, and truly

they to have a good revenge upon me; for I had suffered very great a

long while because of it. Yet, as you do mind, when I came upon them, the Lady Mirdath had a

half-regret, that was very natural, because even then she was in love of

me, as I of her; and because of this, she drew away, as you shall

remember, being--as she confessed--suddenly and strangely troubled and

to want me; but afterwards as much set again to my punishment, because

that I bowed so cold and went away.

And indeed well I might. Yet, truly, all was safe ended now, and I utter thankful and with a mad

delight in the heart; so that I caught up Mirdath, and we danced very

slow and stately around the great hall, the while that Mistress Alison

whistled us a tune with her mouth, which she could very clever, as many

another thing, I wot. And each day and all day after this Gladness, Mirdath and I could never

be apart; but must go a-wander always together, here and there, in an

unending joy of our togetherness.

And in a thousand things were we at one in delight; for we had both of

us that nature which doth love the blue of eternity which gathers beyond

the wings of the sunset; and the invisible sound of the starlight

falling upon the world; and the quiet of grey evenings when the Towers

of Sleep are builded unto the mystery of the Dusk; and the solemn green

of strange pastures in the moonlight; and the speech of the sycamore

unto the beech; and the slow way of the sea when it doth mood; and the

soft rustling of the night clouds. And likewise had we eyes to see the

Dancer of the Sunset, casting her mighty robes so strange; and ears to

know that there shakes a silent thunder over the Face of Dawn; and much

else that we knew and saw and understood together in our utter joy.

Now, there happened to us about this time a certain adventure that came

near to cause the death of Mirdath the Beautiful; for one day as we

wandered, as ever, like two children in our contentment, I made remark

to Mirdath that there went only two of the great boar-hounds with us;

and she then told me that the third was to the kennels, being sick.