ne paused and trembled, and
dared not touch her, and sinking before her on his knees, spake very
humbly and with head low-bowed.
"Helen--show me a little mercy!" he pleaded. "Would'st that I abase
myself? Then here--here behold me at thy feet, fearing thee because of
my unworthiness. But O believe--believe, for every base doubt of thee
this heart hath known, now doth it grieve remorseful. For every harsh
and bitter word this tongue hath spoke thee, now doth it humbly crave
thy pitiful forgiveness! But know you this, that from the evil hour I
drave thee from me, I have known abiding sorrow and remorse, for
without thee life is indeed but an empty thing and I a creature lost
and desolate--O Helen, pity me!"
Thus spake he, humble and broken, and she, beholding him thus, sighed
(though wondrous softly) and 'neath her long lashes tears glittered
(though swift dashed away) but--slowly, very slowly, one white hand
came out to him, faltered, stopped, and glancing up she rose in haste
and shrank away. Now Beltane, perceiving only this last gesture, sprang
up, fierce-eyed:
"How?" quoth he, "am I then become a thing so base my presence doth
offend thee--then, as God liveth, ne'er shalt see me more until thou
thyself do summon me!"
Even as he spake thus, swift and passionate, Giles clambered the
adjacent wall and dropping softly within the garden, stared to behold
Beltane striding towards him fierce-eyed, who, catching him by the arm
yet viewing him not, spun him from his path, and coming to the green
door, sped out and away.
Now as Giles stood to rub his arm and gape in wonderment, he started to
find the Duchess beside him; and her eyes were very bright and her
cheeks very red, and, meeting her look, poor Giles fell suddenly
abashed.
"Noble lady--" he faltered.
"Foolish Giles!" said she, "go, summon me my faithful Roger." But as
she spake, behold Roger himself hasting to her through the roses.
"Roger," said she, frowning a little, "saw you my lord go but now?"
"Aye, verily, dear my lady," quoth he, ruffling up his hair, "but
wherefore--"
"And I," said Giles, cherishing his arm, "both saw and felt him--"
"Ha," quoth Roger, "would'st have him back, sweet mistress?"
"Why truly I would, Roger--"
"Then forsooth will I go fetch him."
"Nay--rather would I die, Roger."
"But--dear lady--an thou dost want him--"
"I will bring him by other means!" said the Duchess, "aye, he shall
come despite himself," a
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