d answered me distinctly. Perhaps they did....
But be that as it may be I will follow my own heart, I will go my
own way--"

He arose and began to walk with her. "And thy heart led thee this way?"
he asked in a whisper.

She flashed upon him a look so bright that it was as if high noon had
returned to the garden. "Pluck me yonder lily," she said. "It is the
first I have smelled this year."

He brought it to her, trembling. "Presently it will close," he said,
"never to open again."

"That also is among the things we know not," she answered. "Think you
not there is one who revives the souls of men?"

"Ay, I believe it," he answered. They paced again the green to its
flowery margin.

"Give me yon spray of love-lies-bleeding," she said; then as it rested
against the lily in her hand, "Wounds may be cured," she said. "I have
heard talk here, there, at the court even, else, beshrew me, if I had
come this way to-day! I know that thou goest forth--" Her voice broke
and the gold star shook with the trembling of her frame. "I know that
thou mayst never, never, never return. I will pray for thy soul's
welfare.... See! there is a heartsease at my feet."

He knelt, but touched not the floweret, instead caught at the long folds
of her silver gown and held her where she stood. "For my soul's welfare,
thou balm from heaven!" he cried. "For only my soul's welfare?"

"No, no," she answered. "For the welfare of all of thee, soul and
body--soul and body!" She bent over him, and there fell from her eyes a
bright rain of tears, quickly come, quickly checked. "Ah, a contrary
world of queens and guardians!" she cried. "Oh, my God! if thou mightst
only make me thy wife before thou goest!"

He arose and drew her into his arms. "The story is true," he whispered,
to which she answered:

"I care not! Sayest thou, 'A thing was done.' Say I, '_Thou_ didst it!'
and high above the deed I love thee!"

Suddenly she fell into a storm of weeping, then broke from him, and
somewhat blindly sought the garden seat, sank down upon it, and buried
her face in her arms. He kneeled beside her, and presently she was
crouching against his breast, that rose and fell with his answering
emotion. She put up her hand and touched the deep lines of past
suffering in the face above her.

"I know that thou must go," she said. "I would not have thee stay. But,
Mortimer, if it were possible ... He forgave you long, long ago, for he
loved you above all men. I, hi