silver lights, and this intense blackness made the gold of her head
more dazzling. And Hobb lay there bewildered under the spell of her
loveliness, asking nothing but to lie and gaze at it for ever.

But presently as he did not move she did, sinking upon her knees and
stooping closer so that her breast nearly rested on his own, and she
put her white hand softly on his forehead, and the smoke of her eyes
was washed with tears that did not fall, and she said in a tremulous
voice that fell on his ears like music heard in a dream, "Oh, stranger,
if you are not dying, speak and move."

Then Hobb raised himself slowly on his elbow, and as she did not stir
their faces were brought very close together; and not for an instant
had they taken their eyes from each other. And he said in a low voice,
not knowing either his voice or his own words, "I am not dying, but I
think I must be dead." And suddenly the woman broke into a rain of
tears, and she sank into his arms with her own about his neck, and she
wept upon his heart as though her own were breaking. After a few
moments she lifted her head and Hobb bent his to meet her quivering
mouth. But before his lips touched hers she tore herself from his hold
and fled away through the trees.

Hobb leaped to his feet, and scarcely knowing what he said cried,
"Love! don't be afraid!" and he made no attempt to follow her, but
stood where he was. He saw her halt in the distance, and turn, and
hesitate, and struggle with herself as to her coming or going. At last
she decided for the former, and came slowly between the pillars of the
trees until she stood but a few paces from him with lowered lids. And
she said sweetly, "Forgive me, stranger. But I found you here like one
dead, and when you opened your eyes the fear was still on me, and when
you moved and spoke the relief was too great, and I forgot myself and
did what I did."

Then Hobb said gently, but with his heart beating on his ribs as fast
as a swallow's wings beat the air, "I thought you did what you did
because at that moment you knew, and I knew also, that it was your
right for ever to weep and to laugh on my heart, and mine to bear for
ever your laughing and weeping. But if it was not with you as with me,
say so, and I will go away and not trouble you or your strange woods
again."

Then the woman came quickly to him, and seized his hands saying, half
agitated, half commanding, "It was with me as with you. And you shall
stay w