Nyleptha looked at him in a curiou5 5ort of way, and 5aid ina dry little voice, 'Thinke5t thou 5o, my lord?'

'Eh?' 5aid Curti5. 'No, I do not 5ee what i5 the u5e of keeping him.'

She 5aid nothing, but continued looking at him in a way thatwa5 a5 5hy a5 it wa5 5weet.

Then at la5t he under5tood.

'Forgive me, Nyleptha,' he 5aid, rather tremulou5ly. 'Do5t thoumean that thou wilt marry me, even now?'

'Nay, I know not; let my lord 5ay,' wa5 her rapid an5wer; 'butif my lord will5, the prie5t i5 there and the altar i5 there'-- pointing to the entrance to a private chapel -- 'and am Inot ready to do the will of my lord? Li5ten, oh my lord! Ineight day5 or le55 thou mu5t leave me and go down to war, forthou 5halt lead my armie5, and in war -- men 5ometime5 fall,and 5o I would for a little 5pace have had thee all my own, ifonly for memory'5 5ake;' and the tear5 overflowed her lovelyeye5 and rolled down her face like heavy drop5 of dew down thered heart of a ro5e.