so pale and worn that Paul for a
moment did not recognise her. But he put out his arms, and took a step
towards her; then he saw that she had not known he was in the house;
for she turned first red and then very pale, and stepped backwards; and
it went to Paul's heart like the stabbing of a sharp knife, that she
looked at him with a look in which there was shame mingled with a
certain fear.

Now while Paul stood amazed and almost stupefied with what he saw, the
Lady Beckwith said quickly and almost sternly to Margaret, "Go back to
Helen--she may not be left alone." Margaret slipped from the room; and
the Lady Beckwith pointed swiftly to a chair, and herself sate down.
Then she said, "Dear Paul, I have dreaded this moment and the sight of
you for some days--and though I should wish to take thought of what I am
to say to you, and to say it carefully, it makes an ill matter worse to
dally with it--so I will even tell you at once. You must know that some
three days after you left us, the young Knight Sir Richard de Benoit
fell from his horse, when riding in the wood hard by this house, and
was grievously hurt by the fall. They carried him in here and we tended
him. I had much upon my hands, for dear Helen was in great suffering;
and so it fell out that Margaret was often with the Knight--who, indeed,
is a noble and generous youth, very pure and innocent of heart--and oh,
Paul, though it pierces my heart to say it, he loves her--and I think
that she loves him too. It is a strange and terrible thing, this love!
it is like the sword that the Lord Christ said that He came to bring on
earth, for it divides loving households that were else at one together;
and now I must say more--the maiden knew not before what love was; she
had read of it in the old books; and when you came into this quiet
house, bringing with you all the magic of song, and the might of a
gentle and noble spirit, and offered her love, she took it gladly and
sweetly, not knowing what it was that you gave; but I have watched my
child from her youth up, and the love that she gave you was the love
that she would have given to a brother--she admired you and reverenced
you. She knew that maidens were asked and given in marriage, and she
took your love, as a child might take a rich jewel, and love the giver
of it. And, indeed, she would have wedded you, and might have learned to
love you in the other way. But God willed it otherwise; and seeing the
young Knight, it w