Page:Wood Beyond the World.djvu/224

 other’s hollow hands; and that feast seemed glorious to them, such gladness went with it.

But when they were done with their meat, Walter said to the Maid:

And how didst thou know that thou shouldst see me presently?

She said, looking on him wistfully: This needed no wizardry. I lay not so far from thee last night, but that I heard thy voice and knew it.

Said he, Why didst thou not come to me then, since thou heardest me bemoaning thee?

She cast her eyes down, and plucked at the flowers and grass, and said: It was dear to hear thee praising me; I knew not before that I was so sore desired, or that thou hadst taken such note of my body, and found it so dear.

Then she reddened sorely, and said: I knew not that aught of me had such beauty as thou didst bewail.

And she wept for joy. Then she looked on him and smiled, and said: Wilt thou have the very truth of it? I went close up to thee, and stood there hidden by the bushes and the night. And amidst thy bewailing, I knew that thou wouldst soon fall asleep, and in sooth I out-waked thee.