Page:Love's trilogy.djvu/248

 out of my house. The scourge of my curse will be over your head for ever. Now choose as you think best. Choose between the manufacturer and me.'

Marie wept bitterly as she faced my just wrath, she blamed her own weakness and implored me not to send her away.

I forgave Marie and led her with much honour to my couch. But in my heart I swore merciless revenge on her audacious suitor.

N my meadow runs a white hind. She is tame and more lovely than any other hind in the woods. She eats out of my hand, and the moment she hears my voice she comes to me.

There are many hinds wandering near my meadow. I coax them to enter and invite them to grass. But as soon as they scent the trace of the white hind they grew timid, and when, at the edge of the wood, I catch a glimpse of my white hind standing with listening ears, and an inquiring look in her eyes, then I hunt all the others away.

My meadow belongs to the white hind, and she belongs to me. She is my love, my joy. She watches eagerly for me; she eats out of my hand.

My white hind is free to play in the woods and over strange meadows, but should it ever happen that a huntsman would try to catch you, should it happen that a huntsman would tempt you from my meadow and set you in his own, and teach you to eat out of his hand—then, my white hind, would I prove that you are mine, I would tear you from