o more.

Reicht kissed her, and began to whimper; and would you believe it, the
great mastiff uttered one long whine: even his glimmer of sense taught
him grief was afoot.

"Oh, Reicht!" moaned the despised beauty, as soon as she could utter a
word for choking, "see how he has served me!" and she showed her hands,
that were bleeding with falling on the stony ground. "He threw me down,
he was so eager to fly from me, He took me for a devil; he said I came
to tempt him. Am I the woman to tempt a man? you know me, Reicht."

"Nay, in sooth, sweet Mistress Margaret, the last i' the world."

"And he would not look at my child. I'll fling myself and him into the
Rotter this night."

"Oh, fie! fie! eh, my sweet woman, speak not so. Is any man that
breathes worth your child's life?"

"My child! where is he? Why, Reicht, I have left him behind. Oh, shame!
is it possible I can love him to that degree as to forget my child? Ah!
I am rightly served for it."

And she sat down, and faithful Reicht beside her, and they sobbed in one
another's arms.

After a while Margaret left off sobbing and said doggedly, "let us go
home."

"Ay, but the bairn?"

"Oh! he is well where he is. My heart is turned against my very child,
He cares nought for him; wouldn't see him, nor hear speak of him; and I
took him there so proud, and made his hair so nice, I did, and put his
new frock and cowl on him. Nay, turn about: it's his child as well as
mine; let him keep it awhile: mayhap that will learn him to think more
of its mother and his own."

"High words off an empty stomach," said Reicht.

"Time will show. Come you home."

They departed, and Time did show quicker than he levels abbeys, for at
the second step Margaret stopped, and could neither go one way nor the
other, but stood stock still.

"Reicht," said she piteously, "what else have I on earth? I cannot."

"Whoever said you could? Think you I paid attention? Words are woman's
breath. Come back for him without more ado; 'tis time we were in our
beds, much more he."

Reicht led the way, and Margaret followed readily enough in that
direction; but as they drew near the cell, she stopped again.

"Reicht, go you and ask him, will he give me back my boy; for I could
not bear the sight of him."

"Alas! mistress, this do seem a sorry ending after all that hath been
betwixt you twain. Bethink thee now, doth thine heart whisper no excuse
for him? dost verily hate him for whom thou hast