eil and a woman's gauntlets, he was seized with sudden
fright and turned to flee.

But on the instant, from behind, two arms were flung about his neck and
a soft cheek was pressed against his own, and a voice, than which to
him the world contained none sweeter, whispered in his ear:

"Aymer, my lord!"

XXV

A PAGE FROM THE PAST

With a cry of deepest gladness he whirled and caught his lost love to
him, and kissed her brow and ruddy hair, and his voice broke and his
eyes dimmed as he repeated many times:

"Beatrix! . . . Beatrix! . . . Thank God!"

And so for a space they stood. Then of a sudden he held her gently off
at arm's length.

"Are you glad to see me, sweetheart?" he asked.

"And need I tell you that, dear?" smiling archly.

"At least you might tell me why my knocks were so ignored," he said,
smiling back.

"Perchance, sir, I was curious to know how long you would be content to
knock and wait."

"You knew it was I?"

She glanced up with a merry sparkle in her grey eyes.

"Stupid!--do you think the door would have been unbolted to
another?". . . Then with a woman's quick mind: "And dear Sir John! It
is sweet to see that he has his strength again."

"See? When did you see Sir John?"

She led him to the window and drew aside the curtain.

"I saw everything, my lord!" she cried, with a blithesome laugh.
"Everything from when you slew the odious Abbot until the fight ended
on the stairs; and you can never know, dear, the joy with which I
recognized the Stag upon your jupon."

"Surely you did not see the fight in the hall!" he exclaimed.

"Every stroke. I was leaning on the railing just above you."

"And never spoke to me!"

"Because I feared it might be distracting and do you harm. When all
was over I hurried hither . . . to wait . . . though I feared Sir John
might come with you," and she blushed bewitchingly.

"His heart is young, if his hair be grey," said De Lacy. "He bade me
go alone and he would follow presently. And ere he comes, dear, tell
me something of your captivity."

"I will try to sketch it briefly, but if I seem to wander, bear in mind
that to me it is years--long years--since that fateful evening by the
Hermit's Cell." She paused a bit, and then went on: "The attack upon
us was so sharply sudden that Sir John had no chance to defend--the
villains seemed to rise from the very turf on every side. Almost
instantly he was stricken, and as his horse bolted