That shall be the token.'
She spoke slowly, hanging her head adown, but she lifted it presently
and looked into his face and said:
'Woe's me, woe's me, Gold-mane! How evil is this day, when bewailing
me I may not bewail thee also! For I know that thine heart is glad.
All through the winter have I kept this hidden in my heart, and durst
not speak to thee. But now the spring-tide hath driven me to it.
Let summer come, and who shall say?'
Great was his grief, and his shame kept him silent, and he had no
word to say; and again she said:
'Tell me, Gold-mane, when goest thou thither?'
He said: 'I know not surely, may happen in two days, may happen in
ten. Why askest thou?'
'O friend!' she said, 'is it a new thing that I should ask thee
whither thou goest and whence thou comest, and the times of thy
coming and going. Farewell to-day! Forget not the token. Woe's me,
that I may not kiss thy fair face!'
She spread her arms abroad and lifted up her face as one who waileth,
but no sound came from her lips; then she turned about and went away
as she had come.
But as for him he stood there after she was gone in all confusion, as
if he were undone: for he felt his manhood lessened that he should
thus and so sorely have hurt a friend, and in a manner against his
will.
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