Page:Wood Beyond the World.djvu/129

 it, and abode still upon his knees, and hanging down his head.

But she laughed outright, and stooped down to him, and put her hand to his arms, and raised him up, and said to him: What is this, my Squire, that thou kneelest to me as to an idol?

He said faltering: I wot not; but perchance thou art an idol; and I fear thee.

What! she said, more than yesterday, whenas thou sawest me afraid?

Said he: Yea, for that now I see thee unhidden, and meseemeth there hath been none such since the old days of the Gentiles.

She said: Hast thou not yet bethought thee of a gift to crave of me, a reward for the slaying of mine enemy, and the saving of me from death?

O my Lady, he said, even so much would I have done for any other lady, or, forsooth, for any poor man; for so my manhood would have bidden me. Speak not of gifts to me then. Moreover (and he reddened therewith, and his voice faltered), didst thou not give me my sweet reward yesterday? What more durst I ask?

She held her peace awhile, and looked on him keenly; and he reddened under her