The Night Land

And the two to join the dance, and danced very hearty; but had only each

the other for a partner, and had a good care to avoid the torches. And

by this, I was pretty sure that they were truly the Lady Mirdath and her

maid; and so I took chance when they had danced somewhat my way, to step

over to them, and ask boldly for a dance. But, indeed, the tall one

answered, simpering, that she was promised; and immediately gave her

hand to a great hulking farmer-lout, and went round the green with him;

and well punished she was for her waywardness; for she had all her skill

to save her pretty feet from his loutish stampings; and very glad she

was to meet the end of the dance.

And I knew now for certainty that it was Mirdath the Beautiful, despite

her plan of disguise, and the darkness and the wench's dress and the

foot-gear that marred her step so great. And I walked across to her, and

named her, whispering, by name; and gave her plain word to be done of

this unwisdom, and I would take her home. But she to turn from me, and

she stamped her foot, and went again to the lout; and when she had

suffered another dance with him, she bid him be her escort a part of the

way; the which he was nothing loath of.

And another lad, that was mate to him, went likewise; and in a moment,

so soon as they were gone away from the light of the torches, the rough

hind-lads made to set their arms about the waists of the two wenches,

not wetting who they had for companions. And the Lady Mirdath was no

longer able to endure, and cried out in her sudden fear and disgust, and

struck the rough hind that embraced her, so hard that he loosed her a

moment, swearing great oaths. And directly he came back to her again,

and had her in a moment, to kiss her; and she, loathing him to the very

death, beat him madly in the face with her hands; but to no end, only

that I was close upon them. And, in that moment, she screamed my name

aloud; and I caught the poor lout and hit him once, but not to harm him

overmuch; yet to give him a long memory of me; and afterward I threw him

into the side of the road. But the second hind, having heard my name,

loosed from the tiring-maid, and ran for his life; and, indeed, my

strength was known all about that part.