ear," said Harding, "I watched to see whether the direst
want could bring you to humbleness, and saw you only grow in nobleness;
and year by year I lay in wait for my four-footed quarry each Midsummer
Eve beside the Wishing-Pool, and saw it grow in kingliness. And last
year, as you know, I saw you come to the Pool beside the hart, and
heard you make your high prayer for life or death. And if I had not
been able to give you the life, I would have given you the death you
prayed for. But I went before you, and going by the ferry put my old
god's money in your room before you could be there. And from time to
time I robbed his store to keep you. But when in spring they drove you
from the castle I did not know where to find you; and I hunted for your
lair as I hunted for the hart's, and never knew they were the same.
Then this year came the wishing-time again, and lying hidden I heard
you cry for a man to strike for you. And I was tempted then to reveal
myself and make you know to what man you were committed. But I decided
that I would wait and strike for you in the tourney, and come to you
for the first time with a crown. And so I went back to the ferry and
set to work; and to my amazement you followed me, and for the first
time of your own will addressed me. I wondered whether you had come to
be humble before your time, and if you had been I would have let you go
for ever; but when you spoke with scorn as to a servant who had once
forgotten himself so far as to play the man to you, I laughed in my
heart and prized your scorn more dearly than your favor; and said to
myself, To-morrow she shall know me for her man. But when you went down
to the water and made your demand of Wayland, for his sake and yours I
was ready to give you a weapon worthy of your steel. So I gave you the
god's own sword and waited to see what use you would make of it. And
you made as ill an use as after you made of the god's bow. And while
men spoke betwixt wrath and mockery of the Rusty Knight, I loved more
dearly that champion who was doing so ill so bravely for a championless
lady." Then Harding looked her steadily in the eyes, and though her
face was all on fire again as he alone had power to make it, she did
not flinch from his gaze, and he took her hand and said, "No man has
ever struck a blow for you yet, Proud Rosalind, but the Rusty Knight
will strike for you to-morrow; and as to-day there was no marksman, so
to-morrow there shall be no swordsman