der the
water. And as he did so he saw, on the opposite side of the Pond, the
feeble light of a lantern. He could not see who held it, because even
as he looked the bearer blew out the light; but in that moment it
appeared to him that she was as black as the night itself.

So for awhile he knelt upon his side, and she remained on hers, both
trembling; but at last the King, dreading to startle her away, rose
softly and went round the Pond to where he had seen her.

He said into the night in a shaking voice, "I cannot see you. If you
are there, give me your hand."

And out of the night a shaking voice replied:

"It is so dirty, beloved."

Then he took her in his arms, and felt how she trembled, and he held
her closely to him to still her, whispering:

"You are my Lad."

"Yes," she said in a low voice. "But wait."

And she slipped out of his embrace, and he heard her enter the Pond,
and she stayed there as it seemed to him a lifetime; but presently she
rose up, and even in that black night the whiteness of her body was
visible to him, and she came to him as she was and laid her head on his
breast and said:

"I am your Woman."

("I want my apple," said Martin Pippin.

"But is this the end?" cried little Joan.

"Why not?" said Martin. "The lovers are united."

Joscelyn: Nonsense! Of course it is not the end! You must tell us a
thousand other things. Why was the Woman a woman on Saturday night and
a lad all the rest of the week?

Joyce: What of the four jewels?

Jennifer: Which of the answers to the King's riddle was the right one?

Jessica: What happened to the cake?

Jane: What was her name?

"Please," said little Joan, "do not let this be the end, but tell us
what they did next."

"Women will be women," observed Martin, "and to the end of time prefer
unessentials to the essential. But I will endeavor to satisfy you on
the points you name.")

In the morning William said to his beloved:

"Now tell me something of yourself. How come you to be so masterful a
smith? Why do you live as a black Lad all the week and turn only into a
white Woman on Saturdays? Have you really got a Great-Aunt, and where
does she live? How old are you? Why were you so hard to please about
the shoeing of Pepper? And why, the better my shoes the worse your
temper? Why did you run away from me a week ago? Why did you never tell
me who you were? Why have you tormented me for a whole month? What is
your name?"

"Trust a