brim with tears.

"O Martin, you do look the same Martin after all!" says she and so away
into the sunshine; yet when I presently joined her I found her blithe
enough.

"Are you hungry, sir?"

"Ravenous, my lady!"

"Why then, here we have broiled fish--caught by my ladyship--salt,
Martin! Butter--churned by my ladyship--and--bread, Martin! Bread
baked by my ladyship's own two hands."

"O marvellous, sweet lady!" says I.

"And 'tis none so ill though I had no yeast, is it, Martin?"

"Delicious!" says I, my mouth full.

And now, all our recent woes and sorrows clean forgotten, a right
joyous meal had we; our hearts light as the sweet air that breathed
around us, and untroubled as the placid ocean and broad serenity of
heaven, with no dark shadow anywhere to warn us of those evils to come.
Thus we ate and talked, finding joy in everything. Often my fingers
must go to feel my smooth cheeks and chin, and she, catching me, must
needs laugh and vow a smooth face suited me well, and that I should be
handsome were my nose another shape and my eyes a different colour.
Thus (as I say) brooding sorrow seemed clean vanished from my world, so
that my heart swelled with gratitude for that I should live to breathe
the air she made sweet.

Breakfast done, I fetched my saw, and despite her remonstrances and my
resplendent breeches, forthwith set about making a cupboard; vowing I
was well again, that I never felt better, etc. Hereupon, finding me set
on it, she presently brings me the following, viz., an excellent new
saw, divers chisels of goodly edge, a plane, a hammer, an auger and an
adze; the which rejoiced me greatly, more especially the adze, the
which is an exceeding useful tool in skilled hands. All these she had
brought from the secret store and I mighty grateful therefor, and told
her so.

"Why then, Martin," says she, "if your gratitude be real and true, you
shall do somewhat for me--"

"What you will!" says I eagerly.

"Nay," she laughed, "'tis no more than this--keep you
shaved--henceforth."

And so it was agreed.

CHAPTER XLI

OF THE VOICE THAT SANG ON DELIVERANCE SANDS

If clothes be the outward and visible (albeit silent) expression of a
man, his tastes and certain attitudes of his mind, yet have they of
themselves a mighty influence on their wearer, being, as it were, an
inspiration to him in degree more or less.

And this is truth I will maintain let say who will to the contrary,
since '