Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/112

 pest to all the country-side, and that I have freed men of peace from a curse? Be not wrath with me, Osberne, she said, indeed I am somewhat downcast; for I see that now thou wilt be no playmate for me, but will be a man before thy time, and will be looking towards such things as men desire; and that tall maidens come to womanhood will be for thee, not quaint rags of children such as I be. Now, Elfhild, said he, why wilt thou run to meet trouble half way? Am I worser to thee than I was last time? Nay, she said, and indeed I deem thee glorious, and it is kind and kind of thee to come to me ever, and not to miss one of our trysts.

Now thou art dear, said Osberne; and wilt thou do something for my disport? wilt thou pipe thy sheep to thee? Nay, said she, I will not; I will not skip like an antic, and show thee my poor little spindle legs. If I were a woman grown I should scarce show so much as the ankle of my foot. Besides, thou laughest at my hopping and jumping amongst those foolish woolly beasts, and I would not have thee laugh at me. Elfhild, my dear, said he, thou art wrong. When I have laughed it was never in mockery of thee, but for pleasure of thy pretty ways and the daintiness of thy dancing, which is like to the linden leaves on a fresh summer morning. But how am I to know that? she said. Well, at any rate ask me not to dance to-day. But I will sit down and tell thee a very sweet tale of old times, which thou hast never erst heard. It is about the sea and ships,