is countenance lit up as he saw me; but otherwise, I might have parted
from him but an hour ago.

"I expected you," said he. "Come along. This is no place for talking."

So I followed him in silence deep into the wood, where presently he
flung down his bow and put his great hand on my shoulder.

"Humphrey," said he, and I could see that something big was on his mind.
"Am I the same Ludar you parted with a week ago?"

"No," said I, for I had never seen him thus before.

"Humphrey, my lad," said he, "I am undone. I have lived ill and the
saints have found me out. My arm hangs feeble at my side. I am turned
back from being a man into a boy. I am unworthy of you--and a shame to
myself--Humphrey," said he, clutching my arm till every vein in it
tingled. "I am bewitched for my sins. Dost thou hear--I am--"

"In love," said I, with sinking heart. I had known what it would come
to the moment I parted with the maiden at the Ferry that day. I had
prayed against it; I had laughed myself out of the terror that was on
me; I had called to mind his scornful jests at love. But all the while
I knew what was to come of it. And I knew that what he had won I had
lost.

So I finished his sentence for him; and in reply he took my hand and
looked at me with an almost humble gaze. "And you do not scorn me?"
said he. "I love myself," said I. "Ah! yes," said he, "you told me so;
and I scorned you for it. Now-- But what brings you here, Humphrey?"

The change in his voice was so sudden and resolute that it forbade me to
say another word about the matter our hearts were fullest of. Who knows
but that, had I spoken then, he might have guessed the truth; and so our
lives might have broken asunder at that point? Now the chance was past.

But the chance was come to tell him my news, which I did, then and
there, and marvellously it moved him. Not that he spoke much, still
less raved. But his face grew thunderous and his eyes flashed; and the
few questions he asked me he put in a voice which half startled me by
its smothered passion.

He took in the whole peril in a moment; and if once I had been fool
enough to imagine I should direct the enterprise which was to thwart the
villainy, I was soon undeceived. "Humphrey," aid he, "are you free to
stand by me in this?"

I told him that now I owned no master but him. His face cleared up
joyously for a moment at that. "Good; I claim you, then, not as a
master, but as a comrade