Page:The Story and Song of Black Roderick.djvu/58

50 before him down the winding stair and out into the night, so he could no longer see her.

And again the spirit of the young bride went back to the dead upon the hillside, and, seeing it unburied and uncoffined, fell into tears.

‘Never,’ saith she, ‘shall I now reach heaven, if my body lieth without a grave!’

And so sad was her soul at the thought that she went in her despair to the castle of the Black Earl, and stood again upon his threshold full of tears.

And when he looked up and saw her he was no longer fierce, but spake to her gently.

‘Come hither,’ quoth he, ‘my sad-faced bride. I would but ask thee one question. Come beside my chair.’

But she answered him not at all, but withdrew from his presence, as though bidding him follow.

Out into the night he followed, and pursued her without rest, till she almost reached the high hill where her body lay uncoffined.

And when they came in the morning to