of their rock-house and Ralph
said: "Let us sit down here on the grass, and if thou art not over
wearied with the flight and the battle, I will ask thee a question."
She laid herself down on the grass with a sigh, yet it was as of one
who sighs for pleasure and rest, and said, as he sat down beside her:
"I am fain to rest my limbs and my body, but my heart is at rest; so
ask on, dear friend."

The song of birds was all around them, and the scent of many blossoms
went past on the wings of the west wind, and Ralph was silent a little
as he looked at the loveliness of his friend; then he said: "This is
the question; of what kind are thy kisses this morning, are they the
kisses of a friend or a lover? Wilt thou not called me beloved and not
friend? Shall not we two lie on the bridal bed this same night?"

She looked on him steadily, smiling, but for love and sweetness, not
for shame and folly; then she said: "O, dear friend and dearest lover,
three questions are these and not one; but I will answer all three as
my heart biddeth me. And first, I will tell thee that my kisses are as
thine; and if thine are aught but the kisses of love, then am I
befooled. And next, I say that if thou wilt be my friend indeed, I
will not spare to call thee beloved, or to be all thy friend. But as
to thy third question; tell me, is there not time enough for that?"

She faltered as she spake, but he said: "Look, beloved, and see how
fair the earth is to-day! What place and what season can be goodlier
than this? And were it not well that we who love each other should
have our full joy out of this sweet season, which as now is somewhat
marred by our desire?"

"Ah, beloved!" she said, looking shyly at him, "is it so marred by that
which marreth not us?"

"Hearken!" he said; "how much longer shall this fairness and peace, and
our leisure and safety endure? Here and now the earth rejoiceth about
us, and there is none to say us nay; but to-morrow it may all be
otherwise. Bethink thee, dear, if but an hour ago the monster had
slain thee, and rent thee ere we had lain in each other's arms!"

"Alas!" she said, "and had I lain in thine arms an hundred times, or an
hundred times an hundred, should not the world be barren to me, wert
thou gone from it, and that could never more be? But thou friend, thou
well-beloved, fain were I to do thy will that thou mightest be the
happier...and I withal. And if thou command it, be it so! Yet now
s