Part 64 (1/2)

At the verge of the flowery pastures that ring the isle of Thrieve, Sholto met Maud Lindesay, wandering alone. At sight of her he leaped from his horse, and, without salutation of spoken speech, walked by her side.

”How came you here alone?” he asked.

Maud made her little pouting movement of the lips, and kicked viciously at a tuft of gra.s.s.

”I forgot,” she said hypocritically, ”I ought to have asked leave of that n.o.ble knight the Captain of Thrieve. We poor maids must not breathe without his permission--no, nor even walk out to meet him when we are lonesome.”

Maud Lindesay lifted her eyes suddenly and shot at Sholto a glance so disabling, that, alarmed for the consequences, she veiled her eyes again circ.u.mspectly by dropping her long lashes upon her cheek.

”Did you really come out to meet me, Maud?” cried Sholto, all the life flooding back into his cheeks, ”in this do you speak truth and no mockery?”

”I only said that we maidens were so much in fear of our Castle Governor, that we must not walk out even to meet him!”

At this Sholto let his horse go where it would, and, as they were pa.s.sing at the time through a coppice of hazel, he caught his saucy sweetheart quickly by the wrist.

”Mistress Maud, you shall not play with me!” he said; ”you will tell me plainly--do you love me or do you not?”

Maud Lindesay puckered her pretty face as if she had been about to cry.

”You hurt my arm!” she said plaintively, looking up at him with the long pathetic gaze of a gentle helpless animal undeservedly put in pain.

Sholto perforce released the pressure on her arm. She instantly put both hands behind her.

”You did not hurt me at all--hear you that, Master Sholto,” she cried, ”and I do not love you--not that much, Sir n.o.ble Bully!”

And she snapped her finger and thumb like a flash beneath his nose.

”Not that much!” she repeated viciously, and did it again. Sholto turned away sternly.

”You are nothing but a silly girl, and not worthy that any true man should either love or marry you!” he said, walking off in the direction of the castle.

Maud Lindesay looked after him a moment as if not believing her eyes and ears. Then, so soon as she made sure that he was indeed not coming back, she tripped quickly after him. He was taking long strides, and it required a series of small hops and skips to keep up with him.

”Not really, Sholto?” she said beseechingly, almost running beside him now. He walked so fast.

”Yes, madam, really!” said that young knight, still more sternly.

She took a little run to get a step in front of him, so that she might advantageously look up into his face.

”Then you will not marry me, Sholto?”

Her hands were clasped with the sweetest pet.i.tionary grace.

”_No!_”