The Night Land | Page 8

never to be done of naughty laughter, that made her dearly
breathless with delight, and to sway a little, and set the trembling of pretty sounds in her
throat; and surely she must pull down two great pistols from an arm-rack, that I fight a
duel to the death with the lady of the embroidering, who held her face down over her
work, and shook likewise with the wickedness of her laughter that she could not hide.
And in the end, the Lady of the Embroidering looked up sudden into my face; and I then
to see somewhat of the mischief in a moment; for she had the face of the man of the
Court suit, that had been lover to Mirdath.
And the Lady Mirdath then to explain to me how that Mistress Alison (which was her
name) was a dear and bosom friend, and she it was that had been drest in the Court suit to
play a prank for a wager with a certain young man who would be lover to her, an he
might. And I then to come along, and so speedy to offence that truly I never saw her face
plain, because that I was so utter jealous. And so the Lady Mirdath had been more justly
in anger than I supposed, because that I had put hands upon her friend, as I have told.
And this to be all of it, save that they had planned to punish me, and had met every
evening at the gap, to play at lovers, perchance I should pass, so that I should have

greater cause for my jealousy, and truly they to have a good revenge upon me; for I had
suffered very great a long while because of it.
Yet, as you do mind, when I came upon them, the Lady Mirdath had a half-regret, that
was very natural, because even then she was in love of me, as I of her; and because of
this, she drew away, as you shall remember, being--as she confessed--suddenly and
strangely troubled and to want me; but afterwards as much set again to my punishment,
because that I bowed so cold and went away. And indeed well I might.
Yet, truly, all was safe ended now, and I utter thankful and with a mad delight in the heart;
so that I caught up Mirdath, and we danced very slow and stately around the great hall,
the while that Mistress Alison whistled us a tune with her mouth, which she could very
clever, as many another thing, I wot.
And each day and all day after this Gladness, Mirdath and I could never be apart; but
must go a-wander always together, here and there, in an unending joy of our
togetherness.
And in a thousand things were we at one in delight; for we had both of us that nature
which doth love the blue of eternity which gathers beyond the wings of the sunset; and
the invisible sound of the starlight falling upon the world; and the quiet of grey evenings
when the Towers of Sleep are builded unto the mystery of the Dusk; and the solemn
green of strange pastures in the moonlight; and the speech of the sycamore unto the beech;
and the slow way of the sea when it doth mood; and the soft rustling of the night clouds.
And likewise had we eyes to see the Dancer of the Sunset, casting her mighty robes so
strange; and ears to know that there shakes a silent thunder over the Face of Dawn; and
much else that we knew and saw and understood together in our utter joy.
Now, there happened to us about this time a certain adventure that came near to cause the
death of Mirdath the Beautiful; for one day as we wandered, as ever, like two children in
our contentment, I made remark to Mirdath that there went only two of the great
boar-hounds with us; and she then told me that the third was to the kennels, being sick.
Yet, scarce had she told me so much; ere she cried out something and pointed; and lo! I
saw that the third hound came towards us, at a run, yet very strange-seeming in his going.
And in a moment, Mirdath cried out that the hound was mad; and truly, I saw then that
the brute slavered as he came running.
And in a moment he was upon us, and made never a sound; but leaped at me in one
instant of time; all before I had any thought of such intent. But surely, My Beautiful One
had a dreadful love for me, for she cast herself at the dog, to save me, calling to the other
hounds. And she was bitten in a