at when I
brought thee hither I would stay thereon and talk with thee while I
stood above the freshness of the water, as I am doing now."

Ralph looked on her and strove to answer her, but no words would come
to his lips, because of the greatness of his longing; she looked on him
fondly, and then stooped to look at the ripples that bubbled up about
her shoes, and touched them at whiles; then she said: "See how they
long for the water, these feet that have worn the waste so long, and
know how kind it will run over them and lap about them: but ye must
abide a little, waste-wearers, till we have done a thing or two. Come,
love!" And she reached her hand out behind her to Ralph, not looking
back, but when she felt his hand touch it, she stepped lightly over the
other stones, and on to the grass with him, and led him quietly up the
slope that went up to the table of greensward before the cave. But
when they came on to the level grass she kissed him, and then turned
toward the valley and spake solemnly: "May all blessings light on this
House of the wilderness and this Hall of the Summer-tide, and the
Chamber of Love that here is!"

Then was she silent a while, and Ralph brake not the silence. Then she
turned to him with a face grown merry and smiling, and said: "Lo! how
the poor lad yearneth for meat, as well he may, so long as the day hath
been. Ah, beloved, thou must be patient a little. For belike our
servants have not yet heard of the wedding of us. So we twain must
feed each the other. Is that so much amiss?"

He laughed in her face for love, and took her by the wrist, but she
drew her hand away and went into the cave, and came forth anon holding
a copper kettle with an iron bow, and a bag of meal, which she laid at
his feet; then she went into the cave again, and brought forth a flask
of wine and a beaker; then she caught up the little cauldron, which was
well-beaten, and thin and light, and ran down to the stream therewith,
and came up thence presently, bearing it full of water on her head,
going as straight and stately as the spear is seen on a day of tourney,
moving over the barriers that hide the knight, before he lays it in the
rest. She came up to him and set the water-kettle before him, and put
her hands on his shoulders, and kissed his cheek, and then stepped back
from him and smote her palms together, and said: "Yea, it is well! But
there are yet more things to do before we rest. There is the dight