Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/70

 folk shall call us man and woman. But now, fair child, I must needs go homeward, and thou must let me go or I shall be called in question. Yea, said Osberne; yet I would give thee a gift if I might, but I know not what to give thee save it were my Dwarf-wrought whittle. She laughed and said: That were a gift for a man, but not for me; keep it safe, dear and kind lad. I for my part were fain of giving thee somewhat; but as for my pipe, I fear me that I could never throw it across the water. I would I might reach thee with my gold and gem necklace, but I fear for it lest the Sundering Flood devour it. What shall I do then? Nought at all, dear maiden, said the lad. I would no wise take thy pipe from thee, which saveth thee from blame and beating; and as to the necklace, that is woman's gear even as the whittle is man's. Keep it safe till thou art become a great lady. Well, she said, now let me go; it almost seems to me as I might not till thou hast given me leave. Yea, said he; but first, when shall I come to see thee again, and thou me? Shall it be to-morrow? O nay, she said, it may not be, lest they take note of me if I come down here over often. Let it be after three days first: and then the next time it must be longer. Quoth Osberne: Let the next time take care of itself; but I will come in three days. Now I bid thee depart, and I will go home; but I would kiss thee were it not for the Sundering Flood. That is kind and dear of thee, said the maiden. Farewell, and forget me not in three days, since thou