The Night Land | Page 4

gleam of lanthorns, so that I
knew not what to think; until, very sudden, and with a sweet and strange little laughter,
the Lady Mirdath to perceive that we had missed the hours utter in our converse; so that
her Guardian (made uneasy because of the three foot-pads) had ordered a search. And we
all that time a-wander together in happy forgetfulness.
And we turned homeward, then, and came towards the lights; but indeed, the dogs found
us before we were come there; and they had grown to know me now, and leaped about
me, barking very friendly; and so in a minute the men had discovered us, and were gone
back to tell Sir Jarles that all was well.
And this was the way of our meeting and the growing of our acquaintance, and the
beginning of my great love for Mirdath the Beautiful.
Now, from that time onward, evening by evening would I go a-wander along the quiet
and country road that led from my estate to the estate of Sir Jarles. And always I went
inward by the hedge-gap; and oft I should find the Lady Mirdath walking in that part of
the woods; but always with her great boar-hounds about her; for I had begged that she do
this thing for her sweet safety; and she to seem wishful to pleasure me; but truly to be just

so oft utter perverse in diverse matters; and to strive to plague me, as though she would
discover how much I would endure and how far she might go to anger me.
And, truly, well I remember how that one night, coming to the hedge-gap, I saw two
country-maids come thence out from the woods of Sir Jarles'; but they were naught to me,
and I would have gone upward through the gap, as ever; only that, as they passed me,
they curtseyed somewhat over-graceful for rough wenches. And I had a sudden thought,
and came up to them to see them more anigh; and truly I thought the taller was surely the
Lady Mirdath. But, indeed, I could not be sure; for when I asked who she did be, she only
to simper and to curtsey again; and so was I very natural all in doubt; but yet sufficient in
wonder (having some knowledge of the Lady Mirdath) to follow the wenches, the which
I did.
And they then, very speedy and sedate, as though I were some rack-rape that they did
well to be feared of alone at night; and so came at last to the village green, where a great
dance was a-foot, with torches, and a wandering fiddler to set the tune; and ale in plenty.
And the two to join the dance, and danced very hearty; but had only each the other for a
partner, and had a good care to avoid the torches. And by this, I was pretty sure that they
were truly the Lady Mirdath and her maid; and so I took chance when they had danced
somewhat my way, to step over to them, and ask boldly for a dance. But, indeed, the tall
one answered, simpering, that she was promised; and immediately gave her hand to a
great hulking farmer-lout, and went round the green with him; and well punished she was
for her waywardness; for she had all her skill to save her pretty feet from his loutish
stampings; and very glad she was to meet the end of the dance.
And I knew now for certainty that it was Mirdath the Beautiful, despite her plan of
disguise, and the darkness and the wench's dress and the foot-gear that marred her step so
great. And I walked across to her, and named her, whispering, by name; and gave her
plain word to be done of this unwisdom, and I would take her home. But she to turn from
me, and she stamped her foot, and went again to the lout; and when she had suffered
another dance with him, she bid him be her escort a part of the way; the which he was
nothing loath of.
And another lad, that was mate to him, went likewise; and in a moment, so soon as they
were gone away from the light of the torches, the rough hind-lads made to set their arms
about the waists of the two wenches, not wetting who they had for companions. And the
Lady Mirdath was no longer able to endure, and cried out in her sudden fear and disgust,
and struck the rough hind that embraced her, so hard that he loosed her a moment,
swearing great oaths. And directly he came back to her again, and had her in a moment,
to kiss her; and she, loathing him to the very death,