ek; "Meet him I needs must, dear--once or twice more if my purpose
is to succeed--but I do vow and swear to thee never to quit this lane,
John. I do swear all this if thou too wilt swear not to pursue this
quarrel."

"He will insist on a meeting, Betty--and I pray God soon!"

"And if he doth not, John--if he doth not, thou wilt swear to let the
quarrel pass?"

"Art so fearful for me, Betty?"

"O my John!" she whispered, her embrace tightening, "how might I live
without thee? And he is so cold, so--deadly!"

"Yet art not afraid for thyself, Betty!"

"Nor ever shall be. So promise me, John--O promise me! Swear me, dear
love!" And with each entreaty she kissed him, and so at last he gave
her his promise, kneeling thus his head pillowed between soft neck and
shoulder; and being in this fragrant nest his lips came upon her smooth
throat and he kissed it, clasping her in sudden, passionate arms.

"John!" she whispered breathlessly. "O John!"

Instantly he loosed his hold and rising, stood looking down at her
remorsefully.

"Dear--have I--angered you?" he questioned in stammering humility.

"Angry--and with thee?" and she laughed, though a little tremulously.

"Betty, I do worship thee--revere thee as a goddess--and yet----"

"You tickle me, John! You are by turns so reverent and humble and
so--so opposite. I do love your respect and reverent homage, 'tis this
doth make me yearn to be more worthy--but alack! I am a very woman,
John, especially with thine arms about me and--and the moon at the
full. But heigho, the moon is on the wane, see, she sinketh apace."

"Dawn will be soon, Betty."

"Hast seen a many dawns, John?"

"Very many!"

"But never one the like of this?"

"Never a one."

"O 'tis a fair, sweet world!" she sighed, "'tis a world of faerie, a
dream world wherein are none but thou and I. Here is neither doubt nor
sorrow, but love and faith abiding. Come let us walk awhile in this
our faerie kingdom."

Slowly they went beneath the fading moon, speaking but seldom, for
theirs was a rapture beyond the reach of words. So at last they came
to a stile and paused there to kiss and sigh and kiss again like any
rustic youth and maid. Something of this was in my lady's mind, for
she laughed soft and happily and nestled closer to him.

"My Master Grave-airs," she murmured, "O Master Grave-airs where is now
thy stately dignity, where now my fine-lady languor and indifference?
To stand at a